What does ‘a penny for your thoughts’ mean?
To “a penny for your thoughts” means to asking someone what they are thinking. Brewer's records this as an old English proverb, familiar from at least the 16th century.
Origin
- Brewer's records this as an old English proverb, familiar from at least the 16th century.
How to use it
- Warm, mildly old-fashioned way to invite confidence.
- Example: You're quiet — a penny for your thoughts?
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.