mind's ear

plural mind's ears · plural minds' ears · plural uncommon minds' ear

1. idiomaticThe mental faculty or inner sense with which one produces or reproduces imagined or recalled sounds solely within the mind; the supposed organ within the mind which experiences such sounds.

   Even now I have in my mind's ears the merry gibe of some young rogue of a reader, […]

   1850 March, “My Aunt Nelly’s Portfolio”, in The Churchman’s Companion, volume VII, part XXXIX, London: Joseph Masters, […], →OCLC

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   The thinking Sculpture helps to raiſe / Deep thoughts, the Genii of the place: / To the minds ear, and invvard ſight, / There ſilence ſpeaks, and ſhade gives light: […]

   1732 (date written), Peter Drake [pseudonym; Matthew Green], The Grotto, a Poem. […], London: [s.n.], published 1733, →OCLC, page 5

   But, enough of this ſubject; for your angry voice at Aſhbourne upon it, ſtill ſounds avveful 'in my mind's ears.'

   1778 February 28 (date written), James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. […], volume II, London: […] Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, […], published 1791, →OCLC, page 185

   "I must read Shakspeare [i.e., William Shakespeare]?" / "You must have his spirit before you; you must hear his voice with your mind's ear; you must take some of his soul into yours."

   1849, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], “Coriolanus”, in Shirley. A Tale. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, page 125

   [K]eep our thoughts from wandering, open our minds' ears to hear, open our mouths to sing thy praises, let us not trifle in thy house, but ever remember "thou God seest me."

   [1850], T[homas] Major Lester, “Morning”, in Prayers and Hymns for the Use of Sunday Schools, London: Wertheim, Macintosh, & Hunt, […], →OCLC, page 3

   The likeness of the great bass horn remained upon the retina of his mind's eye, losing nothing of its brazen enormity with the passing of hours, nor abating, in his mind's ear, one whit of its fascinating blatancy.

   1916, Booth Tarkington, “Yearnings”, in Penrod and Sam, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, →OCLC, page 293

   Synonyms: inner ear