second thought

A reconsideration of a decision or opinion previously made.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

second thought

(usually plural) a revised opinion or idea on a matter already considered

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sec′ond thought′

Often, second thoughts. reservation about a previous action, position, decision, or judgment.

[1625–35]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

second thought - thinking again about a choice previously made; "he had second thoughts about his purchase"

afterthought, rethink, reconsideration

change of mind, flip-flop, turnabout, turnaround, reversal - a decision to reverse an earlier decision

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References in classic literature

But he took it home on second thoughts, and soon found to his delight that it was an egg of pure gold.

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I was about to tell the story of my First Love, but on second thoughts I decide not.

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Possibly, too, Jonah might have ensconced himself in a hollow tooth; but, on second thoughts, the Right Whale is toothless.

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As I happened to have been in a remarkably sound and refreshing slumber, I could not imagine why the information had not been deferred until morning, indeed, I felt very much inclined to fly into a passion and box my valet's ears; but on second thoughts I got quietly up, and on going outside the house was not a little interested by the moving illumination which I beheld.

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All this struck me as mighty singular; yet, upon second thoughts, there was something almost sublime in it.

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Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which puzzled her a good deal until she made out what it was: she was beginning to grow larger again, and she thought at first she would get up and leave the court; but on second thoughts she decided to remain where she was as long as there was room for her.

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Second thoughts caused them to moderate their fury.

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Then on second thoughts he bent down and kissed his forehead.

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And yet--and yet he may not be guilty of the last offence; and it is just possible that the change towards me may have been a genuine relenting--the effect of second thoughts such as he alleged.

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"Well, on second thoughts, you may take your choice.

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But instead of adopting this course of retaliation, Mrs Jarley, on second thoughts, brought out the suspicious bottle, and ordering glasses to be set forth upon her favourite drum, and sinking into a chair behind it, called her satellites about her, and to them several times recounted, word for word, the affronts she had received.

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"And what reason is that?" asked Hester, half smiling at the absurd incongruity of the child's observation; but on second thoughts turning pale.

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