70 Useful Expressions for Remembering and Forgetting in English

Last updated on June 15, 2024 by Isabella Claire

Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you know that you should be able to recall something in English, but the words won’t come to mind? If so, you’re not alone! We all struggle to remember and forget from time to time. Thankfully, some useful expressions for remembering and forgetting in English can help you in those tricky situations. Let’s look at some of the most useful expressions for remembering and forgetting in English and how you can use them in different contexts.

Useful Expressions for Remembering

Common expressions for remembering things

  1. As far as I can remember…
  2. I’ll always remember…
  3. I remember…
  4. If (my) memory serves me correctly,…
  5. I’ll never forget…
  6. As I recall…
  7. If I’m not / Unless I’m – mistaken…
  8. Now I come to think of it…
  9. I can (clearly) remember…
  10. I have a vague recollection of…
  11. As far as I can recall…
  12. If I remember correctly…

Formal ways to say “I remember…”

Memorizing information can be a challenge, but there are some useful expressions to help you remember important details. One helpful phrase is “Let me see if I can recall the details,” which expresses that you are taking the time to search your memory for the facts. Another phrase is “I believe that I remember this,” which conveys that you are confident in your recollection of the facts.

Other formal expressions for remembering

  1. To the best of my recollection…
  2. So far as my memory serves me…
  3. To the extent of my recollection…
  4. To the best of my knowledge and recollection…
  5. Based on my recollection…
  6. To my knowledge and recollection…
  7. As far as I am able to recall…
  8. According to my recollection…
  9. So far as I remember…
  10. As far as my memory serves me…

Informal ways to say “I remember…”

Memorizing can be tricky, so here are some phrases that can help you jog your memory. If you want to express that you’re thinking hard about the facts, try saying, “Hmmm, let me see if I can think back on it.” On the other hand, if you feel confident in your recollection of the facts, you could say, “I’m pretty sure I remember this.” With these phrases, you’ll have no trouble recalling the information when needed.

Other informal expressions for remembering

  1. As far as I can remember…
  2. As far back as I can remember…
  3. To the best of my memory…
  4. From what I can remember…
  5. As far as I recall…
  6. If memory serves me right…
  7. To the best of my recollection…
  8. As far as I can recall…
  9. To the best of my knowledge, as far as I remember…
  10. From what I remember…

Idiomatic expressions for remembering things

When it comes to English, there are plenty of idiomatic expressions to use when trying to remember something.

• “It’s on the tip of my tongue.” – This is a great phrase to use when trying to recall a piece of information you know but can’t quite remember.

• “It’s ringing a bell.” – This is a slightly less particular version of “It’s on the tip of my tongue” – in this case, you’re not sure if what you’re thinking of is precisely correct, but it sounds familiar.

Phrases for Forgetting things

Common expressions for forgetting something

  1. My mind went blank.
  2. I can’t remember.
  3. It doesn’t ring a bell.
  4. It completely slipped my mind.
  5. I’m sorry, I forgot about it.
  6. I forget.
  7. I lost my train of thought.
  8. It’s on the tip of my tongue.
  9. I don’t remember.
  10. It went in one ear and out the other.
  11. Can you refresh my memory?
  12. I had a senior moment.
  13. I failed to remember
  14. It escaped my memory.
  15. I’d forget my head if it wasn’t attached
  16. My memory is short.
  17. I do not memorize anything.

Formal ways to say “I forget”

When forgetting something, you can express yourself in more formal phrases such as “I must have forgotten about it” or “It slipped my mind.” You can also say, “It completely slipped my memory,” or “I temporarily misplaced it.”

Other formal phrases for forgetting things:

  1. I am unable to recall.
  2. The memory eludes me.
  3. The information is not retained in my memory.
  4. I am at a loss to recall.
  5. The recollection escapes me.
  6. The event is not retained in my memory.
  7. I am unable to retain the memory.
  8. The information is not retained in my mind.
  9. My memory fails me in this instance.
  10. The recollection is not at the forefront of my mind.

Informal ways to say “I forget”

Alternatively, if you want to speak more informally, you can say, “I completely blanked out,” “I must have spaced it out,” or “I don’t even remember.” You can also humorously express yourself by saying, “Oops, my brain must have gone on vacation.”

Other informal phrases for forgetting things:

  1. I forget.
  2. I don’t remember.
  3. I can’t recall.
  4. I have no recollection.
  5. I have no idea.
  6. It’s slipping my mind.
  7. I can’t seem to remember.
  8. It’s not coming to me.
  9. It’s on the tip of my tongue.
  10. My memory’s a bit foggy.

Idiomatic expressions for forgetting things

• “It slipped my mind.” – This is a common way to say that you forgot something.

• “It flew out of my head.” – This is another way to express that you forgot something – perhaps it flew away like a bird!

• “It fell by the wayside.” – This phrase implies something was forgotten or neglected as if it was left behind on the side of the road.

Expressions for Remembering and Forgetting | Image

Remembering and forgetting are both parts of life, but there are many expressions that can help us communicate our experiences. Whether it is to express that you have forgotten something or remembered something, these expressions can be helpful in various contexts. While remembering and forgetting can sometimes be challenging, having these phrases at hand can help communicate with others.

English Expressions for Remembering and Forgetting

Latest posts by Isabella Claire (see all)