Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - idea

~ n 1 »PLAN/SUGGESTION« a plan or suggestion for a possible course of action, especially one that you think of suddenly + for  (What gave you the idea for the book?) + of  (What do you think about John's idea of recruiting two new people?) idea that  (What do you think of this idea that we should all wear uniforms? | it is sb's idea to do sth)  (It was Mary's idea to hold the party outside. | good/great idea)  (What a good idea! | have an idea (=think of an idea))  (George has had a brilliant idea - let's hire the church hall. | hit on/come up with an idea (=to think of an idea) | new idea)  (These meetings are intended to pool knowledge and inspire new ideas. | toy with the idea of doing sth (=think about a plan or suggestion, but not very seriously))  (We toyed with the idea of going to Paris. | entertain an idea (=consider it as a possibility) formal)  (There is evidence to show that she entertained the idea of suicide long before this. | bright idea (=a very clever idea, often used jokingly to mean a very stupid idea or action))  (Whose bright idea was it to turn the fridge off, then?) 2 »KNOWLEDGE« a) a general understanding of something, based on knowing something about it  (Before I undertake this work, I need an idea of the problems involved. | some idea (=at least a little knowledge about something))  (You must have some idea of where they went. | general/rough idea (=a not very exact idea))  (Can you give me a rough idea of how much the repairs will cost?) b) to not know at all  (have no idea)  (I've no idea where she's gone. | "When are they arriving?" "No idea." | not have the faintest/slightest/foggiest idea spoken)  (I don't have the foggiest idea how much he earns.) 3 »AIM/INTENTION« the aim, intention, or purpose of doing something  (The idea was to buy a new dress, but we only got as far as the supermarket!) + of  (The idea of the game is get the ball past your opponent.) big ideas (=plans to become important, successful etc)  (He was a man with big ideas - he even dreamed of becoming president.) have other ideas (=have different plans from the ones that someone else has for you)  (They wanted Mike to go to law school, but he had other ideas.) 4 »IMAGE« an image in your mind of what something is like or should be like + of  (Chefs differ in their idea of what makes a good dessert.) not my idea of fun/a good time etc  (Walking up a mountain in the pouring rain isn't my idea of fun.) 5 »BELIEF« C usually plural an opinion or belief  (Jack has some pretty strange ideas.) + abou  (traditional ideas about women) 6 have an idea (that) to be fairly sure that something is true, without being completely sure  (I'm not certain where she is, but I've a pretty good idea. | Benson? Yes, I have an idea he works in the library.) 7 »PRINCIPLE« a principle or belief about how something is or should be + of  (The whole idea of democracy was something strange and new to most people.) idea that  (It's based on the idea that all people are created equal.) 8 it is a (good) idea to do sth spoken used to give someone advice about what to do  (It'd be a good idea to call and let them know you're coming.) 9 get the idea informal to begin to understand something or be able to do something  (Just read through the instructions - you'll get the idea.) 10 get the wrong idea to think that something is true when it is not  (Don't get the wrong idea about Dan and Helen - they're just friends.) 11 have the right idea to be using the right kind of method or general principle in something that you are trying to do  (He still makes a few mistakes but I reckon he's got the right idea.) 12 where did you get that idea? spoken used to say that what someone thinks is in fact completely wrong  (No, I'm not seeing Jane. Where did you get that idea?) 13 put ideas into sb's head to make someone think of doing something that they had not thought of before, especially something stupid or impossible  (Nick tells me he wants a motorbike. Have you been putting ideas into his head?) 14 that's an idea! spoken used to say that you like what someone has just suggested  ("We could hire a car when we get there." "That's an idea!") 15 that's the idea spoken used to tell someone who is learning to do something that they are doing it the right way, in order to encourage them 16 sb's idea of a joke informal something that is intended to be a joke but makes you angry  (I suppose hiding the car keys was his idea of a joke!) 17 you have no idea spoken used when you are telling someone that something is extremely good, bad etc  (You have no idea how worried I was.) 18 the idea! old-fashioned used to express surprise or disapproval when someone has said something stupid or strange  (- see also buck up your ideas buck2)