thinking man's

blue-sky thinking

A form of thinking that is not grounded or in touch with the realities of the present, and can thus benefit from creative imagination.

poor man's shilling

Honesty.

thinking cap

A metaphorical state of focused thinking or concentration, invoked to encourage problem-solving.

way of thinking

An opinion; a viewpoint.

what was someone thinking

Used to express disappointment about someone's uncharacteristic or abnormal past actions.

wishful thinking

The formation of beliefs based on an outcome that aligns with one's desires or hopes, while disregarding evidence, rationality, or reality.