Idiom Breakdown

penny for your thoughts

//ˈpɛn.i fəː jəː ˈθɔːts/ / /ˈpɛn.i fɔː jɔː ˈθɔːts/ / /ˈpɛn.i fɔɹ jʊɹ ˈθɑts/ / /ˈpɛn.i fɔɹ jʊɹ ˈθɔts/ / /ˈpɛn.i fɚ jɚ ˈθɑts//

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Definition

Used to inquire into the thoughts and feelings of another, especially when the person appears pensive or conflicted.

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"One day, as your ladyship was playing on the harpsichord to my master, Mr Jones was sitting in the next room, and methought he looked melancholy. La! says I, Mr Jones, what's the matter? a penny for your thoughts, says I."
"As for Harry, he sate in very deep meditation over the scene; and when Mrs. Lambert offered him a penny for his thoughts, he said, “That he thought, Young Norval, Douglas, What-d'ye-call-'em, the fellow in white satin—who looked as old as his mother—was very lucky to be able to distinguish himself so soon."
"And she said to Gerty: —A penny for your thoughts. —What? replied Gerty with a smile reinforced by the whitest of teeth."
"The penny-post is, commonly, an institution through which you seriously offer a man that penny for his thoughts which is so often safely offered in jest."
"“A penny for your thoughts,” said Miss Wilkinson, looking at him with a smile. “I’m not going to tell you,” he answered. He was thinking that he ought to kiss her there and then."
"Is there any thing else to say? My cry upon firing will be, “A penny for your thoughts.”"

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