Collocations for thinking - noun
1. using your mind to think
ADJ.
deep, hard, serious
This topic requires a lot of deep thinking.
This topic requires a lot of deep thinking.
good
Yes, we''ll phone them instead - that''s good thinking (= a good idea).
Yes, we''ll phone them instead - that''s good thinking (= a good idea).
clear, logical | muddled | quick | forward
The school would have made better use of the money with a little forward thinking.
The school would have made better use of the money with a little forward thinking.
positive | abstract, analytical, critical | creative, independent, innovative, original | lateral | wishful
His claims to be a millionaire are just wishful thinking.
His claims to be a millionaire are just wishful thinking.
QUANT.
piece
a brilliant piece of lateral thinking
a brilliant piece of lateral thinking
VERB + THINKING
do
We have some hard thinking to do before we agree to the plan.
We have some hard thinking to do before we agree to the plan.
apply
The book shows you how to apply critical thinking to your studies.
The book shows you how to apply critical thinking to your studies.
PREP.
~ behind
It was difficult to see what the thinking was behind their eventual decision.
It was difficult to see what the thinking was behind their eventual decision.
2. opinion
ADJ.
contemporary, current, modern | fresh, new | conventional, old, traditional | divergent | government | Labour, Republican, etc. | economic, educational, historical, political, scientific, etc.
Traditional educational thinking placed importance on learning by rote.
Traditional educational thinking placed importance on learning by rote.
feminist, socialist, etc. | military, strategic
VERB + THINKING
develop, shape | clarify, explain | change
They are unlikely to have changed their thinking so soon.
They are unlikely to have changed their thinking so soon.
dominate
His writings on motorized warfare dominated strategic thinking in the 1930s.
His writings on motorized warfare dominated strategic thinking in the 1930s.
PREP.
in … ~
contemporary trends in feminist thinking
contemporary trends in feminist thinking
~ about/on
What is the current Conservative thinking on social security?
What is the current Conservative thinking on social security?
PHRASES
a shift in sb''s thinking
There''s been a shift in government thinking on genetically-modified food.
There''s been a shift in government thinking on genetically-modified food.
to sb''s way of thinking
(= in sb''s opinion) To my way of thinking, it would just be a massive waste of money.
(= in sb''s opinion) To my way of thinking, it would just be a massive waste of money.