fixed idea: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Literary
Quick answer
What does “fixed idea” mean?
An obsessive, unchanging belief or notion that one refuses to abandon, often irrational.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An obsessive, unchanging belief or notion that one refuses to abandon, often irrational.
A persistent, dominant thought or preoccupation that shapes a person's actions or worldview, sometimes to an unhealthy degree. In psychology/psychiatry, a firmly held belief resistant to rational argument, akin to an idée fixe.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more commonly used in British English in formal/literary contexts. American English more frequently uses 'fixation', 'obsession', or 'idée fixe' directly.
Connotations
Similar negative/clinical connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
More frequent in UK English, but overall low frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “fixed idea” in a Sentence
SUBJ has a fixed idea that CLAUSESUBJ's fixed idea of NOUNdriven by the fixed idea to INFINITIVEVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fixed idea” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He was fixed-idea about the outcome.
- A fixed-idea notion took hold.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe an executive's unwavering commitment to a failing strategy.
Academic
Used in psychology, literary criticism, and history to describe ideological or psychological rigidity.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might be used humorously or critically.
Technical
Used in clinical psychology/psychiatry as a lay synonym for an overvalued idea or delusion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fixed idea”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fixed idea”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fixed idea”
- Using it to mean simply a 'firm belief' without the connotation of irrationality.
- Confusing it with 'set in one's ways' (which refers to habits, not ideas).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'fixed idea' is a direct calque/translation of the French term 'idée fixe', which is also used in English, often in more artistic or clinical contexts.
Rarely. While the idea itself might be noble (e.g., justice), the term 'fixed idea' emphasises the obsessive, inflexible manner of holding it, which is typically seen as a negative trait.
A 'strong belief' is held with conviction but may be open to discussion or change. A 'fixed idea' implies rigidity, often irrationality, and resistance to counter-evidence or argument.
No, it is relatively low-frequency and belongs to a formal, literary, or specialist register. More common alternatives are 'obsession', 'fixation', or 'preoccupation'.
An obsessive, unchanging belief or notion that one refuses to abandon, often irrational.
Fixed idea is usually formal, academic, literary in register.
Fixed idea: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɪkst aɪˈdɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɪkst aɪˈdiːə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's got a bee in his bonnet about it (informal, similar concept).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a nail (FIXED) hammered into a thought bubble (IDEA) – it's stuck there and can't be removed.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEAS ARE OBJECTS / A FIXED IDEA IS A NAILED OBJECT (immovable, stuck).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'fixed idea' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?