Level C1

a turn of mind

a particular way of thinking or mental disposition

In Spanish

una forma de pensar, una mentalidad

Examples

  • He has a philosophical turn of mind — always asking the deeper question.
  • Her artistic turn of mind makes her see beauty in the mundane.
  • With his analytical turn of mind, he's perfect for solving complex problems.

When it's used

This idiom is used to describe someone's particular mental disposition or way of thinking. It is common in both formal and informal contexts and often appears in character descriptions.

The common mistake

A common mistake is translating the Spanish idiom 'una vuelta de pensamiento' literally into English as 'a turn of thinking', which is not something native speakers say and sounds odd.

Related idioms

Recognising it isn't the same as using it

Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.

Practise speaking