notion

have half a notion to (do something)

To have an inclination or intention that is moderate, irresolute, or indefinite (but often one that was motivated by a specific unpleasant experience). My flight home was so terrible, I have half a notion to write a letter to the airline company and complain. We set out on the road with only half a notion as to where we would go!
See also: half, have, notion

labor under (something)

To live, function, or operate while believing something or holding an assumption of some kind, especially something that is not or may not be true. We all labored under the assumption that we would be getting paid overtime, so we all nearly quit when we realized that wasn't the case These politicians want us all to labor under the notion that they're our friends, looking out for our interests first and foremost.
See also: labor

not have the faintest (notion)

To have no knowledge or understanding about something. He doesn't have the faintest notion how hard it is to run a business. A: "Do you know where the car keys are?" B: "I don't have the faintest, sorry."
See also: faint, have, not

not have the foggiest notion

To have no knowledge or understanding about something. He doesn't have the foggiest notion how hard it is to run a business. A: "Do you know where the car keys are?" B: "I don't have the foggiest notion. Sorry."
See also: foggy, have, not, notion

pale at the notion of (something)

To be made fearful, nervous, or sickened by thinking about something happening. I know that David pales at the notion of flying in an airplane. We paled at the notion of shutting down the company that our great-great-grandfather created.
See also: notion, of, pale

run away with the idea

To take a fantastical or unrealistic idea as something that is definitely true or destined to happen. His book appeared on a local bestseller list, and now he's run away with the idea of being a famous author. Local tabloids are running away with the idea of the mayor being a part of a big conspiracy.
See also: away, idea, run

run away with the notion

To take a fantastical or unrealistic idea as something that is definitely true or destined to happen. His book appeared on a local bestseller list, and now he's run away with the notion of being a famous author. Local tabloids are running away with the notion of the mayor being a part of a big conspiracy.
See also: away, notion, run

the foggiest notion

A basic, vague, or rudimentary knowledge or understanding (about something). Often used in negative constructions. A: "Do you know where the car keys are?" B: "I haven't the foggiest notion. Sorry." Do you have the foggiest notion how much this mistake is going to cost the company? Even though I could speak a little Japanese, I could only pretend to have the foggiest notion what the woman was talking about.
See also: foggy, notion
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

have half a notion to do something

 and have half a mind to do something
Fig. to have almost decided to do something, especially something unpleasant. I have half a mind to go off and leave you here. The cook had half a notion to serve cold chicken.
See also: half, have, notion
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

run aˈway with the idea/notion

(spoken) believe something that is not true: Don’t run away with the idea that you’re going to be famous just because you’ve appeared on television once.
See also: away, idea, notion, run
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • have half a notion to (do something)
  • have half a notion to do
  • half a mind
  • have a good/half a mind to, to
  • 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
References in classic literature
And there are no teachers in the higher sense of the word; that is to say, no real teachers who will arouse the spirit of enquiry in their pupils, and not merely instruct them in rhetoric or impart to them ready- made information for a fee of 'one' or of 'fifty drachms.' Plato is desirous of deepening the notion of education, and therefore he asserts the paradox that there are no educators.
And Socrates himself appears to be conscious of their weakness; for he adds immediately afterwards, 'I have said some things of which I am not altogether confident.' (Compare Phaedo.) It may be observed, however, that the fanciful notion of pre-existence is combined with a true but partial view of the origin and unity of knowledge, and of the association of ideas.
Meno
As we have just seen, the notion of "cause" is not so reliable as to allow us to infer the existence of something that, by its very nature, can never be observed.
The Analysis of Mind
Little as Catherine was in the habit of judging for herself, and unfixed as were her general notions of what men ought to be, she could not entirely repress a doubt, while she bore with the effusions of his endless conceit, of his being altogether completely agreeable.
Northanger Abbey
'Is that the way in which he is supposed to corrupt the youth?' 'Yes, it is.' 'Has he only new gods, or none at all?' 'None at all.' 'What, not even the sun and moon?' 'No; why, he says that the sun is a stone, and the moon earth.' That, replies Socrates, is the old confusion about Anaxagoras; the Athenian people are not so ignorant as to attribute to the influence of Socrates notions which have found their way into the drama, and may be learned at the theatre.
Yet this singular and almost accidental character of his mission agrees with the divine sign which, according to our notions, is equally accidental and irrational, and is nevertheless accepted by him as the guiding principle of his life.
Apology
Had Mademoiselle Hennequin been an American girl, he would not have thought a second time of the emotion she had betrayed in regarding my beauties; but he had been taught to believe all French women managing and hypocritical; a notion that the experience of a young man in Paris would not be very likely to destroy.
From some quarter, or other, a rumor had got abroad that Miss Monson's governess was of a noble family, a circumstance that I soon discovered had great influence in New York, doubtless by way of expiation for the rigid democratical notions that so universally pervade its society.
Autobiography of a Pocket Handkerchief
Harvey had a notion that the east coast of his native land, from Mount Desert south, was populated chiefly by people who took their horses there in the summer and entertained in country-houses with hardwood floors and Vantine portieres.
Salters protested that this kind of yarn was desperately wicked, if not indeed positively blasphemous, but he listened as greedily as the others; and their criticisms at the end gave Harvey entirely new notions on "germans," clothes, cigarettes with gold-leaf tips, rings, watches, scent, small dinner-parties, champagne, card-playing, and hotel accommodation.
Captains Courageous
He could not marry yet; he wished not to marry for several years; and therefore he was not ready to entertain the notion of being in love with a girl whom he happened to admire.
"What is his religious doctrine to me, if he carries some good notions along with it?
Middlemarch
Well, and is not this one quality, to mention no others, greatly at variance with present notions of him?
Republic
Arthur is not what is commonly called a bad man: he has many good qualities; but he is a man without self-restraint or lofty aspirations, a lover of pleasure, given up to animal enjoyments: he is not a bad husband, but his notions of matrimonial duties and comforts are not my notions.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
This gossiping familiarity shocked the captain's notions of rank and subordination, and nothing was so abhorrent to him as the community of pipe between master and man, and their mingling in chorus in the outlandish boat-songs.
Astoria or Anecdotes of an enterprise beyond the Rocky Mountain