second thought

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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]

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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

References in classic literature ?

I could not withstand that look, nor could I, on second thought, have deserted my rescuer without giving as good an account of myself in his behalf as he had in mine.

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How was I, who had worked hard and read books of adventure, and who was only fifteen years old, who had not dreamed of giving the Queen of the Oyster Pirates a second thought, and who did not know that French Frank was madly and Latinly in love with her--how was I to guess that I had done him shame?

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"Take him into the vestibule of the chateau." Then as if on second thought, he said: "No!--no!

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On swift second thought, he sat down again, pressed the electric button, and, while waiting for the club steward, reread the headline and the brief five lines.

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On seeing me, he suddenly drew in his little steed, and seemed inclined to turn back, but on second thought apparently judged it better to continue his course as before.

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Sapsea's knowledge of mankind and power of drawing out whatever is recluse or odd around him, first led to my bestowing a second thought upon the man: though of course I had met him constantly about.

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After obtaining his brother's address from Sergey Ivanovitch's footman, Levin was on the point of setting off at once to see him, but on second thought he decided to put off his visit till the evening.

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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.