ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grey cells

idiom
Meaning

Brains; a person's ability to think, especially referring to intelligence.


Origin

disputed origin

Compare grey matter.

Examples
SIMPLE

Use your grey cells to solve this puzzle.

CONTEXTUAL

The math problem was difficult, so I had to use my grey cells to find the right answer.

COMPLEX

The detective sat quietly in his chair, exercising his grey cells to uncover the truth behind the mysterious crime.

Anchors to
Related idioms6entries
  1. 01

    get grey hair from

    To acquire great frustration, confusion, or anxiousness from (something or someone).

  2. 02

    give someone grey hair

    To give someone great frustration, confusion, or anxiousness.

  3. 03

    gray hat

    A morally ambiguous character; an antihero.

  4. 04

    grey area

    An area intermediate between two mutually exclusive states or categories, where the border between the two is fuzzy or ill-defined.

  5. 05

    grey matter

    Brains; a person's ability to think.

  6. 06

    grey power

    The collective political, economic, and social influence of senior citizens, especially when they are mobilized by a common interest.

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