APAD: "Out of sight out of mind"

最西边的岛上
楼主 (文学峸)

The idiomatic phrase “out of sight, out of mind” is a popular idiom used to express the idea that if something (or someone) is not visible or present, it's easily forgotten about or even purposely ignored.   We do it all the time with things/people we can't deal with or stuff that we want to put off until another time.

The phrase can be traced back to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who wrote that “memory is the residue of thought.” He said what we remember boils down to what we pay attention to, and if something isn't directly in front of us, then we probably won't remember it.
 

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I too had 1st hand experience of "out of sight".  

When I was young and living at home with my parents, every few weeks, Mom would call for a family cleaning day.  Dad was always the one responding and doing it (although he didn't do any other house chores).

But he just pushed and hid all the loose things away out of sight to be done with it, so he could go back to his books.  And soon enough we would have problems finding our shoes and socks in pairs, but found hats and gloves in the shoe cabinet ... ...

妖妖灵
It‘s similar to“Long absent,soon forgotten”. Haha,
妖妖灵
the story of ur family is fun!:)
7
7grizzly
Dad knows (and practices) it. Who needs Aristotle? :-)
7
7grizzly
I don't smoke as long as there's no cigarettes in the house.
移花接木
I've a different mentality of this proverb: 眼不见心不烦,债多不愁

虱子多了不咬,其实心里是知道的,根本没忘记
最西边的岛上
Actually we had a name for it: 老爸清理法。And I use it now 2 ;-)
最西边的岛上
Really? My dad smoked all his life even when Mom hid them;)
最西边的岛上
True. but I forgot the sheets in our study for months

after hiding them away (when there were guests visiting).  

 

最西边的岛上
One thing I always try to put off and forget but can't:
最西边的岛上
income tax ;-(
盈盈一笑间
拖延症晚期重度患者默默表示同意。haha
盈盈一笑间
Out of sight out of mind, 远离负能量的人事物。这种情况可以有。:)
最西边的岛上
同意!
妖妖灵
If somebody else smokes,will u smoke?
妖妖灵
LOL. He is in denial stage:)
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7grizzly
No but I won't refuse if they offer :-)
移花接木
out of mind in here is not forget, but ignore 不去想它
盈盈一笑间
Me too. :)
盈盈一笑间
能ignore 不去想它,也是一种修炼。:)

不易

妖妖灵
你当然没有,你能量这么大!:)
最西边的岛上
See picture of the preface I wrote in my Dad’s autobiography

g
godog
What's the difference between idiom and proverb?
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7grizzly
Everyone should have an autobiography.
最西边的岛上
Got it.
最西边的岛上
Good idea, but when (to write)? myDad wrote his at age 80;)
天边一片白云
haha. nice story. when my son's room was very messy and
天边一片白云
he refused to clean it up. I requested him to close the door
最西边的岛上
so it's out of Ur sight out of Ur mind. smart Mom. ;-)
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7grizzly
Maybe just try to write what one remembers, anytime.
妖妖灵
哇,真棒!出版啦!
暖冬cool夏
memory is the residue of thought.--Like it!
最西边的岛上
谢谢暖冬喜欢!
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7grizzly
That's a great answer.