Talking About Remembering and Memory in English

Hello English learners! In this lesson, you will learn useful vocabulary for talking about remembering and memory in English. These words, collocations, and idioms will help you speak more naturally about memories, forgetting, and the past.

Memory is a fascinating part of life. We use it to hold on to important information, recall people and places, relive happy moments, and sometimes forget the very thing we wanted to say a second ago. In English, there are many useful words, collocations, and idiomatic expressions for talking about remembering and memory.

Today, we are going to look at common vocabulary and expressions that will help you speak and write more naturally about memory, remembering, forgetting, and the past.

Remember + infinitive or gerund

First of all, it is important to know that the verb remember can be followed by both the to-infinitive and the -ing form, but the meaning changes.

Remember to do something

We use this structure when we are talking about something we must not forget to do in the future.

• Remember to call me as soon as you can.
• Did you remember to lock the door?
• Please remember to send that email this afternoon.

Remember doing something

We use this structure when we are talking about a memory of something from the past.

• Do you remember being afraid of the dark when we were children?
• I remember meeting her for the first time.
• He remembers visiting that castle years ago.

This is a very common difference in English, so it is well worth learning properly.

Keep something in mind

If you keep something in mind, you remember it because it is important.

• Keep in mind that this road gets very busy in the evening.
• When you are learning a language, keep in mind that progress takes time.
• There is nothing we can do about it now, but let’s keep it in mind for next time.

This phrase is especially useful in advice, explanations, and formal writing.

Bear something in mind

This expression is very similar to keep something in mind and is common in both spoken and written English.

• Bear in mind that not everyone learns at the same speed.
• You should bear in mind that the exam is only three weeks away.
• It is worth bearing in mind that this plan may change.

This phrase sounds slightly more formal than keep in mind.

A vivid memory

A vivid memory is a memory that is very clear and strong.

• I still have a vivid memory of my first day at school.
• She gave the police a vivid memory of the accident.
• His stories left me with a vivid memory of those difficult years.

A hazy memory

The opposite of a vivid memory is a hazy memory, which means a memory that is not clear.

• I only have a hazy memory of that house.
• She had a hazy memory of the journey because she was very tired.
• My childhood is a bit of a hazy memory now.

To recall

Recall is a more formal synonym for remember.

• The children could vaguely recall seeing the man.
• Sandra could not recall what had been said at the meeting.
• I do not recall giving you permission to do that.

This verb is especially common in formal speech and writing.

To recollect

Recollect is another word meaning remember, although it sounds a little more formal and is less common in everyday conversation.

• Adam had a problem — he could not recollect where he had parked the car.
• She could hardly recollect her early years in the village.
• As far as I can recollect, we met sometime in 2012.

To remind

If you remind someone of something, you help them remember it.

If someone or something reminds you of another person or thing, it makes you think of them.

• Can you remind me to call the dentist tomorrow?
• I cannot remember the title. Can you remind me?
• Your daughter reminds me of your mother.
• That song reminds me of my university days.

To jog someone’s memory

If you jog someone’s memory, you help them remember something they have forgotten.

• Show me the photo — it might jog my memory.
• Her name does not ring a bell yet, but perhaps her face will jog my memory.
• The smell of that perfume jogged his memory immediately.

A lovely little expression, and very useful.

To reminisce

If you reminisce, you talk in a happy or thoughtful way about pleasant past experiences. We usually say reminisce about something.

• I had lunch with my old friend Jack, and we spent hours reminiscing about our school days.
• My grandmother loves reminiscing about life before the war.
• At the reunion, everyone was reminiscing about old teachers and classroom adventures.

Do something from memory

If you do something from memory, you do it without looking at notes or a written text because you remember it.

• After all these years, I can still sing that song from memory.
• She gave the speech from memory.
• He drew the map from memory without any difficulty.

Learn by heart / know by heart

In British English, we often say learn by heart when we memorise something exactly.

Know by heart means to remember it perfectly.

• We had to learn the poem by heart at school.
• She knows the whole speech by heart.
• I used to know his phone number by heart, but now I’ve forgotten it.

Commit something to memory

This means to memorise something carefully.

• Try to commit these dates to memory before the exam.
• He had to commit the safety instructions to memory.
• I still have not committed her new address to memory.

This one sounds a bit more formal.

On the tip of your tongue

If something is on the tip of your tongue, you almost remember it, but you cannot quite say it at that moment.

• The actor’s name is on the tip of my tongue.
• I know the answer — it’s on the tip of my tongue.
• Her name was on the tip of his tongue, but he just could not say it.

A very common and useful expression.

It rings a bell

If something rings a bell, it sounds familiar, even though you do not remember it clearly.

• That name rings a bell, but I’m not sure where I’ve heard it.
• The street sounds familiar — it definitely rings a bell.
• His face rang a bell, though I could not place him.

This is excellent for intermediate and advanced learners because native speakers use it all the time.

For old times’ sake

If you do something for old times’ sake, you do it in order to remember and enjoy happy moments from the past.

• We should meet up again for old times’ sake.
• Come on, let’s go back to that café for old times’ sake.
• He took out his old guitar and played a few songs for old times’ sake.

A walk down memory lane / a trip down memory lane

This expression means thinking or talking about happy events from the past.

• Looking through those photographs was a real walk down memory lane.
• Watching old family videos took us on a trip down memory lane.
• The documentary is a lovely trip down memory lane for anyone who grew up in the 1990s.

Memories come flooding back

If memories come flooding back, you suddenly remember a lot about the past.

• As soon as I walked into my old school, the memories came flooding back.
• One smell of sea air and childhood memories came flooding back.
• When she heard that song, everything came flooding back.

A beautiful expression, and very expressive too.

Slip your mind

If something slips your mind, you forget it.

• I’m sorry I forgot your birthday — it completely slipped my mind.
• I meant to call her, but it slipped my mind.
• His name has slipped my mind for the moment.

A very natural everyday expression.

Go in one ear and out the other

If something goes in one ear and out the other, someone hears it but forgets it almost immediately.

• Everything I told him seemed to go in one ear and out the other.
• I keep giving the children instructions, but it all goes in one ear and out the other.
• Don’t just let this advice go in one ear and out the other.

Have a memory like a sieve

If you have a memory like a sieve, you forget things easily and have a poor memory.

• I’d better write it down — I’ve got a memory like a sieve.
• Dad needs reminding about everything. He has a memory like a sieve.
• She jokes that she has a memory like a sieve, but she never forgets anything important.

A wonderfully British-sounding expression.

Jog your memory vs remind you

These two are similar, but not exactly the same.

• Remind usually means helping someone remember something directly.
• Jog someone’s memory means helping them remember something gradually or indirectly.

Compare:

• Remind me to post that letter.
• Perhaps this old photo will jog your memory.

Useful phrases for talking about memory and remembering

Here are some very useful ready-made phrases you can use in speaking and writing:

• As far as I can remember, there used to be a cinema here.
• If my memory serves me right, your wife is Brazilian.
• If I remember correctly, your name is Dustin.
• I’ll never forget our holiday in Peru.
• That reminds me of something my grandfather used to say.
• Now that you mention it, I do remember seeing him there.
• Come to think of it, I haven’t spoken to her in ages.

These phrases are especially useful in conversation because they help you sound more natural and thoughtful.

Forgetting in English

When talking about memory, it is also useful to know a few expressions for forgetting:

Forgetful

Someone who is forgetful often forgets things.

• He’s becoming a bit forgetful as he gets older.
• I’m terribly forgetful unless I write things down.

Absent-minded

Someone who is absent-minded often forgets things because they are thinking about something else.

• Our professor is brilliant but rather absent-minded.
• I can be very absent-minded when I’m busy.

Draw a blank

If you draw a blank, you cannot remember something at all.

• When they asked me his name, I completely drew a blank.
• I tried to remember the address, but I drew a blank.

That one is especially useful in spoken English.

Final thoughts on talking about remembering and memory in English

There are many useful ways of talking about remembering and memory in English. Some expressions are straightforward, such as remember, recall, and remind, while others are more colourful and idiomatic, such as on the tip of your tongue, a walk down memory lane, and have a memory like a sieve.

The best way to learn them is to notice them in context, use them in your own sentences, and return to them regularly. Memory, after all, improves with practice — rather like English itself.

And that, hopefully, is one lesson that will not go in one ear and out the other.

Related posts:

Other Ways to Say “I Remember”

Verbs that Change Meaning with Infinitive or Gerund

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How to Interrupt Politely

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100 Collocations to Use in Daily Life + PDF

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