have a good/half a mind to, to
half a mind
A moderate, irresolute, or indefinite inclination or intention. My flight home was so terrible, I have half a mind to write a letter to the airline company and complain. We set out on the road with only half a mind as to where we would go!
See also: half, mind
have a good mind to (do something)
To feel a strong urge or desire to do something. I have a good mind to tell those kids to get off my lawn! She was so upset that she had a good mind to write a letter of complaint to the president of the company.
See also: good, have, mind
have half a mind to (do something)
To have an inclination or intention to do something, especially as a result of some unpleasant experience. My flight home was so terrible, I have half a mind to write a letter to the airline company and complain. She had half a mind to call the police on the people blasting music at 3 AM.
See also: half, have, mind
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
half a mind
An inclination that is not definite or resolute. For example, I've half a mind to drop the course, or He went out with half a mind to walk all the way there. [First half of 1700s] Also see have a good mind to.
See also: half, mind
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
have a good/half a mind to, to
To be strongly inclined toward; to be somewhat inclined toward. The first term began life back in the fifteenth century as having a great mind to do something, as in “I have a great mynd to be a lecherous man” (John Bale, Kyng Johan, ca. 1550). In 1674 Lord Clarendon wrote in History of the Rebellion, “The duke of Lorrayne had a very good mind to get a footing in Ireland.” The second phrase, which implies indecision—half of one’s mind inclines one way and the other half the other way—was known by 1700 or so and appeared more and more often in the nineteenth century. “She had half a mind to reply,” wrote Edward Bulwer-Lytton (My Novel, 1853).
See also: good, half, have, mind
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- half a mind
- have half a notion to (do something)
- have half a notion to do
- notion
- have half a mind to (do something)
- have half a mind to do something
- on and off
- off again, on again
- on again
- on again, off again