mull over

M

mull over (phrasal verb)
/ˈmʌl ˌoʊvər/

Synopsis

The idiomatic phrasal verb “mull over” means to think about something slowly and carefully before reaching a decision. It developed as a metaphor from an older verb meaning to grind or work material repeatedly, and by the eighteenth century it was established in British English as an expression for reflective thought.

Variants

• mull it over
• mull things over
• mulling over

Meanings

• To think about something carefully and slowly before making a decision.
• To consider an idea, plan, or problem in a thoughtful and deliberate way.
• To mentally review information, often returning to it more than once.

Synonyms: consider; ponder; think over; reflect on; deliberate; contemplate.

Example Sentences

1. She decided to mull over the job offer before accepting it.
2. He spent the night mulling over the consequences of his decision.
3. The board will mull over the proposal and announce its verdict next week.
4. If I had enough time to mull things over, the situation might be different.
5. The NASA engineers mulled over another possible option to resolve the issue of blurry images from the Hubble telescope.

Origin and History

The phrase “mull over,” denoting careful pondering or reflection on a matter, stems from the verb “mull” in its figurative sense of mentally processing or thoroughly examining an idea. This usage represents a metaphorical extension from an older English term meaning “to grind,” “pulverize,” or “reduce to fine particles,” likening thoughtful consideration to the act of breaking down and working through complex material in the mind.

Alternative Interpretations

One common association links the expression to the practice of mulling wine, where a beverage is heated and spiced to allow flavors to infuse gradually. This connection, however, lacks etymological support, as the culinary application of “mull” emerged separately in the seventeenth century and bears no direct relation to the ponderative meaning.

Other suggestions evoke ideas of stewing or permitting thoughts to simmer until resolved, emphasizing passive mental fermentation. Proposals tying it to mill grinding reinforce the core metaphor of repetitive processing but do not introduce distinct historical evidence.

Cognitive Meaning in British English

The figurative sense of “mull over” as deliberate thought developed within British English during the eighteenth century. This period saw a broader linguistic tendency to adapt concrete mechanical actions into metaphors for intellectual activity. In educated correspondence and reflective prose, “mull over” came to signify the act of lingering over written material or ideas, suggesting unhurried contemplation rather than analytical rigor. By this stage, the phrase was already recognizable as an idiomatic expression of reflective thinking.

Earliest Printed Record

The earliest known printed occurrence of “mull over” appears in Letters of the Late Ignatius Sancho, an African, published posthumously in 1782. The phrase occurs in a letter dated December 4, 1776, written by Ignatius Sancho to a correspondent identified as Mr. M——. In a passage offering satirical advice for treating gout, Sancho writes:

“The best recipe for the gout, I am informed—is two or three stale Morning Posts;—reclined in easy chair—the patient must sit—and mull over them—take snuff at intervals—hem—and look wise.”

Here, “mull over” clearly conveys the sense of leisurely poring over newspapers, reinforcing the idea of slow, reflective engagement. This citation firmly establishes the idiom’s presence in English several decades earlier than many modern accounts suggest.

Historical Significance

This eighteenth-century usage confirms that “mull over” was already idiomatic by the late Georgian period, fully detached from its literal grinding origins and firmly embedded in the language of contemplation. The phrase exemplifies a common pathway in English semantic change, where physical labor metaphors are repurposed to describe internal mental processes, producing expressions that remain vivid and intelligible centuries later.

Over, Phrasal Verbs, Thinking, Time

Last update: December 18, 2025 12:44 AM