food for thought

What it means

Food for thought is an idea, comment, or piece of information that is interesting enough to keep thinking about after the conversation ends. It's used in discussions, books, lectures, and articles to highlight a point the audience should sit with rather than dismiss.

Examples

• That documentary really gave me food for thought about my own choices.
• Her question about priorities was real food for thought.
• I'll leave you with this idea as food for thought.
• The professor's lecture provided plenty of food for thought for the week.

Where it comes from

An English metaphorical phrase that became common in the 19th century, building on the older idea of 'feeding the mind' that goes back to medieval and classical writing. The compact form 'food for thought' was well established by the mid-1800s.

Related idioms