- wrack one's brains
- ► rack (or wrack) one's brains make a great mental effort.Main Entry: ↑rack
English terms dictionary. 2015.
wrack one's brains
Look at other dictionaries:
wrack one's brains — v. think very hard or very deeply. I m wracking my brains but just can t remember her name … English slang
rack (or wrack) one's brains — make a great mental effort. → rack … English new terms dictionary
rack one's brains — THINK HARD, concentrate, cudgel one s brains; informal scratch one s head. → rack * * * rack one s brains To use one s memory or reasoning powers to the utmost • • • Main Entry: ↑rack * * * rack (or wrack) one s brains (or brain) make a great… … Useful english dictionary
rack one's brains — ► rack (or wrack) one s brains make a great mental effort. Main Entry: ↑rack … English terms dictionary
wrack — {{11}}wrack (n.) late 14c., wrecked ship, probably from M.Du. wrak wreck, cognate with O.E. wræc misery, punishment, and wrecan to punish, drive out (see WREAK (Cf. wreak)). The meaning damage, disaster, destruction (in wrack and ruin) is from… … Etymology dictionary
rack — rack1 noun 1》 a framework for holding or storing things. ↘a vertically barred holder for animal fodder. 2》 a cogged or toothed bar or rail engaging with a wheel or pinion, or using pegs to adjust the position of something. 3》 (the rack)… … English new terms dictionary
rack — Ⅰ. rack [1] ► NOUN 1) a framework for holding or storing things. 2) a cogged or toothed bar or rail engaging with a wheel or pinion, or using pegs to adjust the position of something. 3) (the rack) historical an instrument of torture consisting… … English terms dictionary
rack — rack1 rackingly, adv. /rak/, n. 1. a framework of bars, wires, or pegs on which articles are arranged or deposited: a clothes rack; a luggage rack. 2. a fixture containing several tiered shelves, often affixed to a wall: a book rack; a spice rack … Universalium
rack — in the phrase rack and ruin means ‘destruction’ and is normally spelt in this way in BrE, although it is originally a variant of the older form wrack (which is still sometimes used). Rack is one of nine nouns and seven verbs with this spelling,… … Modern English usage
rack — 1. n. & v. n. 1 a a framework usu. with rails, bars, hooks, etc., for holding or storing things. b a frame for holding animal fodder. 2 a cogged or toothed bar or rail engaging with a wheel or pinion etc., or using pegs to adjust the position of… … Useful english dictionary
