penny for your thoughts

a penny for your thoughts

Meaning

• a way of asking what someone else is thinking
• a request to somebody who lost in consideration to share his or her thoughts
• used for ​wanting to ​know what another ​person is ​thinking, usually because they have not spoken for a some time

Examples

1. “You have been quiet for a while, a penny for your thoughts.”
2. “You seem pretty serious. A penny for your thoughts.”
3. For several minutes they sat in silence, finally she said “A penny for your thoughts, Maya.”
4. Noticing that Sam was in a pensive mood, Hilary said “A penny for your thoughts, Sam.”
5. “You seem pretty pleased, a penny for your thoughts.”
6. “Hey Cathie, so this is our new teacher, do you know about him, penny for your thoughts.”

Origin

The phrase is probably older, but first written recordings of it were in the early to mid 1500s.