Skip to learning

THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Keep an open mind

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

To consider possibilities fairly and avoid deciding before you have enough information.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. Let’s keep an open mind until we have heard both proposals.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.

Let’s ________ until we have heard both proposals.
Show the answer

Keep an open mind — To consider possibilities fairly and avoid deciding before you have enough information.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Keep an open mind” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To consider possibilities fairly and avoid deciding before you have enough information.

Compare: Let’s keep an open mind until we have heard both proposals.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

GO DEEPER

More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this expression when discussing a new idea, an unfamiliar experience or a decision with incomplete evidence. It suits everyday and workplace conversations.

More examples in context

  • I tried to keep an open mind about the new lesson format.
  • The committee kept an open mind while checking the applicants’ experience.

Usage note

Use an open mind, not a open mind. Keeping an open mind does not require accepting every claim; you can examine evidence and then reject an idea. Open-minded is the related adjective.

A short conversation

A: I do not think the new timetable will work.
B: Let’s keep an open mind until we see the full plan.
A: All right. I will read it first.

One more practice question

Which action shows an open mind?

A. Reading both proposals before deciding which is better.
B. Rejecting a proposal before hearing anything about it.

Check your answer

A. The person considers the available information before deciding. Immediate rejection without hearing it does not fit.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

Share this idiom