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What Is Let That Sink In
You’re speaking to a colleague at work and she tells you that she has major news to announce to you but before you comment, you need to let it sink in…
What is she trying to say?
What does it mean to let that sink in?
The phrase “let that sink in” is an expression that is used to tell someone to think about something before they comment or react to the information they obtained.
It’s like saying, “wait a moment before saying anything” or “think about it before you do something”.
Metaphorically, it’s referring to a buoyant object that sinks in water.
It may take a while before the object sinks, but it will ultimately sink in the water.
When the expression “let that sink in” is used, it’s like asking someone to let the information “sink in” or give it some time for the information to “be contemplated”.
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Origin of Let That Sink In
It appears that the expression “let that sink in” is rooted in the bible where there’s a quote in the Gospel of Luke that says: “Let these thinks sink in your hearts.”
Over time, in the Roman Empire, this biblical quote was shortened to become “let it sink in your hearts.”
Ultimately, the expression “let that sink in” was used to indicate that someone should think about a statement.
The earliest record of this expression in modern time goes back to the 18th century.
In the book “The Ruin of Rome”, the earlier version of the expression “let that sink in” was used.
Here is the passage:
Not only to receive this as truth, but feeing it is concerning a truth, as our Lord faith, Luke ix. 44. “Let thefe thinks fink in your hearts:” fo we fay, let this truth fink in your hearts.
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Why Use The Expression Let That Sink In
There are many reasons why you may want to use the expression “let that sink in” in your social or professional conversations.
The main reason why you would want to use this expression is that it’s a great way to tell someone to think about something before saying something or doing something.
The idea is to tell someone to stay calm or keep quiet as information is shared by you or someone else or as the events unfold.
As a result, instead of being very direct by saying “please do not say anything when you hear it” or “don’t react when you see it”, you can say “let that sink in after you hear it” or “let that sink in when you see it”.
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Let That Sink In Alternatives
Here are a few alternatives to the phrase let that sink in:
- Consider it for a moment
- Think about it before reacting
- Keep calm before doing anything
- Ponder on the information for a moment
- Don’t react immediately
- Take the time to think about it
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Let That Sink In Examples
Let’s look at a few examples of the use of the expression let that sink in.
Example 1
John, are you aware that Amazon just bought Whole Foods for $13 billion?
Oh wow, let that sink in for a moment!
Example 2
Following the COVID-19 breakout, all businesses are asked to close down.
Let that sink in for a moment before we figure out what to do next!
Example 3
The shareholders have approved the hostile takeover against the board of directors’ wishes.
It was shocking, I had to let that sink in for a few hours before I can contemplate what will happen next.
Example 4
You just got off the phone with the president?
That’s incredible, let that sink in your mind…
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Let That Sink In FAQ
What does it mean when somebody says “let that sin in”?
Basically, when someone says “let that sink in”, they are trying to say “think about it for a moment”.
In other words, someone is emphasizing that you should think about what was said or what just happened for a moment before reacting in any way.
What are the different meanings of “let that sink in”?
The most common meaning of “let that sink in” is to mean “think about that for a while”.
However, let that sink in can also be used to ask someone to consider different options before making a decision.
Alternatively, let that sink in could be someone asking you to memorize a piece of information so you can remember it in the future (like a teacher asking students to let that sink in).
When not to use “let that sink in”?
The most effective use of let that sink in is to emphasize the fact that someone should think about it for a moment.
It’s best to use this expression only when you really want to deal with an important topic.
If this expression is used too often, it will no longer have the same impact and people will no longer consider that you are referring to an important topic.
Takeaways
So there you have it folks!
What does let that sink in mean?
In a nutshell, let that sink in is an expression used to say make sure you understand something fully or take a moment to contemplate on something.
Let that sink in refers to the time it takes for you to process the news, good or bad, or absorb the information that was shared, or understand what just happened.
In other words, it’s an idiom that means to allow something to penetrate into your mind in such a way that it is fully understood.
Now that you know what “let that sink in” means and how it’s used, good luck with your research!
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Running on fumes
Down in the dumps
Up and running
How is it going
As of now or as for now
To no avail
Tell me about it
Rest easy
Throw the kitchen sink
I could care less
