What does ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mean?
To “out of sight, out of mind” means to things unseen are easily forgotten. Brewer's records this as an old English proverb, in print by the 13th century.
Origin
- Brewer's records this as an old English proverb, in print by the 13th century.
How to use it
- The pessimistic counterpart to 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'.
- Example: Once he moved away, we lost touch — out of sight, out of mind.
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.