ENGLISH
REFERENCE

think up

idiom
Meaning

To create in one’s mind; to invent.


Examples
SIMPLE

Can you think up a new game for us to play?

CONTEXTUAL

The marketing team needs to think up a catchy slogan before the product launch next week.

COMPLEX

Faced with the sudden loss of their primary funding, the researchers had to think up an entirely new methodology to keep the project alive.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    come to think of it

    By the way; now that I think about it; indicates something brought to mind.

  2. 02

    give someone something to think about

    To threaten or provide a challenge to.

  3. 03

    have another think coming

    To be deluded, to be mistaken; to need to rethink something one has determined; to need to reconsider one's plans or expectations.

  4. 04

    lie back and think of England

    Synonym of close one's eyes and think of England: to accept unwanted sex due to social pressures.

  5. 05

    shut one's eyes and think of England

    Alternative form of close one's eyes and think of England: to accept unwanted sex due to social pressures.

  6. 06

    think aloud

    To utter one's thoughts.

  7. 07

    think back

    To think about a time or experience; to recall.

  8. 08

    think of England

    Clipping of close one's eyes and think of England, and its variants.

Last updated April 17, 2026