"I was thinking in my head..."

auserna · 2026-04-07T11:56:43+00:00

Or, "in my mind I thought..." I mean where else would you be thinking? Your left arse cheek? We don't say, "I was walking with my feet," or "I blinked with my eyelids," do we? AIBU to find this tautology ridiculous and a bit annoying? (And no, I don't have anything better to do today.)

Newusername0 · 12/04/2026 15:20

‘Thinking out loud’ is also a thing!

Original poster

auserna · 07/04/2026 15:20

Duckyfondant · 07/04/2026 14:11

You are being unreasonable because I don't believe people often say these things, you've decided for yourself why people think you are unreasonable, and you dismissed the very similar examples such as seeing something with your own eyes, in which the "own eyes" part is also redundant.

I wouldn't have started the thread if I hadn't heard people say this multiple times.

And I've already explained why I think "seeing something with your own eyes" is not equivalent.

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franklymydearscarlett · 07/04/2026 14:40

When my DD was little she used to say “I’ve got a good idea in my head!” And we still say this as a family ❤️

Duckyfondant · 07/04/2026 14:11

You are being unreasonable because I don't believe people often say these things, you've decided for yourself why people think you are unreasonable, and you dismissed the very similar examples such as seeing something with your own eyes, in which the "own eyes" part is also redundant.

Original poster

auserna · 07/04/2026 14:02

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 07/04/2026 13:54

YABU, I have never heard anyone say this.

I have only ever heard people say 'I was thinking...' or 'in my head...'

Never 'I was thinking in my head....'

eg; I say 'I was thinking, we could go to Llandudno instead of Barmouth, as it's easier to get to.'

And 'In my head Sarah's son is still a toddler. I can't believe he's 25, and a dad himself now! How the years have flown by!'

That's not fair - you can't say I'm BU just because you haven't heard it! I haven't made it up - in fact I could point you to a thread from today where it's used. You must just associate with very elegant speakers.

I have no objection to either of your examples.

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CoffeeCantata · 07/04/2026 14:02

Ha ha! This reminds me of something my husband used to tease me about. I'd say things like: "I think the Queen said that when she was alive".

Well, duh! But I know what I meant...

Original poster

auserna · 07/04/2026 14:00

topcat2014 · 07/04/2026 13:43

We are getting less literate with every passing year

A prime example of this being the misuse of the word "literally".

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TeenToTwenties · 07/04/2026 13:58

If I were to say I was thinking in my mind, it would be to emphasise that I knew I hadn't actually said anything, (and therefore acknowledging that the other person couldn't have been expected to be a mind reader).
So usually after a miscommunication.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 07/04/2026 13:56

We all do or say things that annoy others though. Plus people say they are thinking out loud so I guess it’s kind of logical

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 07/04/2026 13:54

YABU, I have never heard anyone say this.

I have only ever heard people say 'I was thinking...' or 'in my head...'

Never 'I was thinking in my head....'

eg; I say 'I was thinking, we could go to Llandudno instead of Barmouth, as it's easier to get to.'

And 'In my head Sarah's son is still a toddler. I can't believe he's 25, and a dad himself now! How the years have flown by!'

Original poster

auserna · 07/04/2026 13:54

MotherofPufflings · 07/04/2026 13:51

I voted YANBU originally and then changed my mind after reading the responses. It's an inelegant turn of phrase, but along the same lines as thinking to myself, thinking aloud etc.

It is inelegant, and I think what makes it so is the redundance of the words "in my head".

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Original poster

auserna · 07/04/2026 13:52

noidea69 · 07/04/2026 13:48

Plenty people think with their dick.

See upthread.

More seriously, they do talk about the gut being like a second brain (and as an IBS sufferer I can concur with that).

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intrepidpanda · 07/04/2026 13:52

As opposed to thinking out loud

MotherofPufflings · 07/04/2026 13:51

I voted YANBU originally and then changed my mind after reading the responses. It's an inelegant turn of phrase, but along the same lines as thinking to myself, thinking aloud etc.

Original poster

auserna · 07/04/2026 13:51

CurlyGaelicGal · 07/04/2026 13:49

My left arse cheek is extremely lucid, thank you very much

So is mine, but I do wonder about the right one sometimes. It operates under the delusion that it's still a size 8.

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Original poster

auserna · 07/04/2026 13:49

IlovePhilMitchell · 07/04/2026 13:48

I would think pan fry on a menu, using fish as an example, is opposed to deep frying fish like at the fish and chip shop.

Another example is pan fried noodles that are crispy opposed to wet boiled noodles. Or pan fried veg.

Show quote history

But "wet boiled" noodles are, er, boiled. Not fried.

Having said that your point about fish is probably correct.

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CurlyGaelicGal · 07/04/2026 13:49

My left arse cheek is extremely lucid, thank you very much

noidea69 · 07/04/2026 13:48

Plenty people think with their dick.

IlovePhilMitchell · 07/04/2026 13:48

WormHoleInSpace · 07/04/2026 13:14

Pan frying also annoys me..
Dry fry , shallow fry , deep fry are all fine descriptions but they all need a pan .
The only exception is air frying but people always say air fry if that's what they mean .

I would think pan fry on a menu, using fish as an example, is opposed to deep frying fish like at the fish and chip shop.

Another example is pan fried noodles that are crispy opposed to wet boiled noodles. Or pan fried veg.

Original poster

auserna · 07/04/2026 13:48

WerewolfOfLoudon · 07/04/2026 13:46

Had to say YABU @auserna

We all know men who think with their penis and people who talk out of their arse, so until the autopsy they may indeed think in the left arse cheek.

Haha! - I almost mentioned the "thinking with penis" exception as a disclaimer in my OP.

(I nearly wrote "thinking with his penis", but of course these days it could just as easily be "thinking with her penis".)

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ObliviousCoalmine · 07/04/2026 13:47

Yes. I also really can’t stand the “for me,
personally, I..” PICK ONE.

WerewolfOfLoudon · 07/04/2026 13:46

Had to say YABU @auserna

We all know men who think with their penis and people who talk out of their arse, so until the autopsy they may indeed think in the left arse cheek.

Original poster

auserna · 07/04/2026 13:45

Predictable high proportion of "YABU" votes from all the people that automatically object to any language/grammar-related kvetches on MN.

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CombatBarbie · 07/04/2026 13:44

To me, in my head means not thinking out loud? And usually theres a reason for silent thinking....

Original poster

auserna · 07/04/2026 13:43

WormHoleInSpace · 07/04/2026 13:14

Pan frying also annoys me..
Dry fry , shallow fry , deep fry are all fine descriptions but they all need a pan .
The only exception is air frying but people always say air fry if that's what they mean .

Agree with this. I guess they generally mean shallow fry. "Oven bake" (or "baked in the oven") is similar.

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