- rack brains
- rack (your) brains
to try very hard to remember or think of something.
She racked her brains for a subject they could discuss without an argument.
New idioms dictionary. 2014.
rack brains
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Rack — (r[a^]k), v. t. 1. To extend by the application of force; to stretch or strain; specifically, to stretch on the rack or wheel; to torture by an engine which strains the limbs and pulls the joints. [1913 Webster] He was racked and miserably… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
rack your brain/brains — see ↑rack, 2 • • • Main Entry: ↑brain rack your brain/brains : to think very hard in order to try to remember something, solve a problem, etc. I ve been racking my brain, but I can t remember his name. • • • Main Entry: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
rack — Ⅰ. rack [1] ► NOUN 1) a framework for holding or storing things. 2) a cogged or toothed bar or rail engaging with a wheel or pinion, or using pegs to adjust the position of something. 3) (the rack) historical an instrument of torture consisting… … English terms dictionary
rack — rack1 [rak] n. [ME racke < LowG rack < IE * rek , to project, bar > ROCK2] 1. a framework, grating, case, stand, etc. for holding or displaying various things [clothes rack, dish rack, pipe rack, bomb rack]: often used in combination:… … English World dictionary
rack (your) brains — rack (your) brain/brains to think very hard, usually in order to remember something or to find a solution to a problem. I ve been racking my brains but I still can t remember who wrote that play … New idioms dictionary
rack your brains — rack (your) brains to try very hard to remember or think of something. She racked her brains for a subject they could discuss without an argument … New idioms dictionary
rack (or wrack) one's brains — make a great mental effort. → rack … English new terms dictionary
rack one's brains — ► rack (or wrack) one s brains make a great mental effort. Main Entry: ↑rack … English terms dictionary
rack — in the phrase rack and ruin means ‘destruction’ and is normally spelt in this way in BrE, although it is originally a variant of the older form wrack (which is still sometimes used). Rack is one of nine nouns and seven verbs with this spelling,… … Modern English usage
rack the brains — index ponder Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
