out of sight, out of mind
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
People or things that are absent are soon forgotten.
Literally: Not seen, therefore not thought of.
How to use it
✓ Use it when
Explaining fading attention toward absent people or postponed problems.
Register: neutralConnotation: neutralEra: Medieval origin – present
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
I moved my phone to another room while studying — out of sight, out of mind.
Editorial example (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Equivalents & related
Common questions
What does “out of sight, out of mind” mean?
People or things that are absent are soon forgotten. Literally: Not seen, therefore not thought of.
Is “out of sight, out of mind” formal or informal?
out of sight, out of mind is generally neutral; connotation: neutral.
What is the closest equivalent?
“xa mặt cách lòng” (Tiếng Việt) — direct equivalent.