have a mind like a sieve

English

Alternative forms

have a memory like a sieve

Etymology

Since a sieve has many holes, the thoughts in such a mind might be imagined to fall out.

Verb

have a mind like a sieve (third-person singular simple present has a mind like a sieve, present participle having a mind like a sieve, simple past and past participle had a mind like a sieve)

(simile) To have a poor memory; to have difficulty remembering things.
Oh, that's right. You said that yesterday, didn't you? I have a mind like a sieve.

Translations

have a poor memory

Finnish: olla pää kuin seula
French: avoir une mémoire de poisson rouge (fr)
German: Ein Hirn wie ein Sieb haben., ein Gedächtnis wie ein Sieb haben (de)

Russian: па́мять как решето́ (pámjatʹ kak rešetó), голова́ дыря́вая (golová dyrjávaja)
Tagalog: may buslong butas

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