His MIND is on his meat

Meaning & Analysis

A person is completely absorbed in thinking about their food, either because they are hungry or because it is their primary interest at the moment.

Insights

Preoccupation with Self-Interest

The proverb describes a state of being wholly consumed by one's immediate, tangible self-interest or personal gain, paying little attention to the concerns or conversation of others.

Carnal Desire

'Meat' can serve as a metaphor for carnal or lustful thoughts. In this sense, the proverb suggests that a person's mind is occupied with physical desires, a meaning explicitly noted in historical usage.

Inattentiveness and Distraction

It can be used to point out that someone is inattentive or mentally absent from a social situation because their focus is on more fundamental or personally satisfying matters.

Social and Contextual Nuance

The proverb's meaning is significantly shaped by its context. As shown in the 1721 quotation by Kelly, it could be used as a flirtatious or sharp retort to bawdy remarks, demonstrating how seemingly simple phrases can carry nuanced, coded meanings within specific social dynamics.

Psychology of Primal Focus

The proverb highlights a fundamental psychological principle: primary drives—such as hunger, survival, or lust—often dominate conscious thought, overriding social etiquette or intellectual concerns. 'Meat' symbolizes any object of intense, primal focus.

Material and Survivalist Concern

Historically, 'meat' symbolized not just food but sustenance and livelihood. The proverb thus reflects a worldview where one's mental energy is justifiably consumed by the practical necessities of survival and personal provision.

Rhetorical Devices

Metaphor

The word 'meat' serves as a potent metaphor for any object of intense, often base, desire—be it food, money, or physical gratification.

Alliteration

The repetition of the 'm' sound in 'mind' and 'meat' creates a pleasing phonetic link, making the phrase concise and memorable.

Concrete Imagery

The proverb uses a concrete, everyday image (meat) to represent an abstract mental state (preoccupation), making the concept vivid and easily grasped.

preoccupationdesireself-interestmaterialisminattentionfocus

Analyzed with gemini-2.5-pro on September 25, 2025

Transcription

Quotations

Is your minde on your meat? a penny for your thought.

— 1578, LYLY, Euph. Anat. Wit, p. 224

(All his minde).

— 1616, DR., no. 880

My mind is upon my meat, I am minding what I must live by.

— 1672, WALK., 18, p. 29

You have mind of your Meat, though you have little hap o’t.

— 1721, KEL., p. 366

Annotations

A Return of wanton Girls to young Fellows, when they talk smutty.

Related Proverbs

M818 He hides his MEAT and seeks more 91.5%M824 MEAT and drink and leisure is good for work-folks 90.4%W30 For WANT of a wise man a fool is set in the chair 90.2%M43 You are like an old MAIDEN, you look aloft 90.1%M861 MEDICINES be not meat to live by 90.0%M850 All MEATS to be eaten, all maids to be wed 89.8%H760 He that has no HOUSE must lie in the yard 89.8%M89 The deceitful MAN falls oft into the snares of deceit 89.8%W197 Little avails WEALTH where there is no health 89.3%H778 It is a sad HOUSE where the hen crows louder than the cock 89.3%M475 A MAN's mind often gives him warning of evil to come 89.3%B174 BEAUTY without bounty avails nought 89.2%M463 It is dangerous to feed another MAN's dog 89.1%M1282 Make MUCH of what you have 89.1%M563 Mind other MEN but most yourself 89.1%H285 Better in HEALTH than in good conditions 89.1%M159 A hasty (angry) MAN never wants woe 89.0%M8 He that buys MAGISTRACY must sell justice 89.0%W775 To speak a good WORD for one 88.9%S492 Poorly (Lowly) SIT richly warm 88.9%

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