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rack one's brain. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
rack one's brain, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
rack one's brain in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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rack one's brain, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Combination of rack (“medieval torture method”), and brain, thus meaning “to cause the mind extreme discomfort”.
Variants include rack one's wit (1583) and rack one's memory, as well as cudgel one's brain / cudgel one's brains.
Pronunciation
Verb
rack one's brain (third-person singular simple present racks one's brain, present participle racking one's brain, simple past and past participle racked one's brain)
- (figuratively) To struggle to think of or remember something.
I have been racking my brain all day trying to think of a birthday present for her.
2023 January 19, Zohaib Ahmed, “Here’s how ChatGPT can help you deal with boring tasks so you can focus on things that matter”, in The Indian Express:Let’s face it – math isn’t for everyone. If you’re done racking your brains over a question based on quadratic equations, differential calculus, or even lengthy word problems, and can’t for the life of you figure out what’s what, then perhaps it’s time you let ChatGPT take up the role of a home tutor.
Translations
struggle to think of something
See also
References
- ^ Michael Quinion (2011 November 19) “Wrack or rack?”, in World Wide Words