1.idea的基本意思是“想法,主意”,用作可数名词。idea也可用于学术方面,指“思想”“概念”。idea还可作“知道,了解”解。用于后两项意思时,既可用作不可数名词,也可用作可数名词。
2.idea后常接介词“of+名词、代词、动名词或疑问词从句”作定语,也可直接接that从句作定语。

half-baked idea
考虑不周全的计划 impractical〔incomplete〕 plan
Jim's got some half-baked idea about converting his garage into a sauna.吉姆初步计划把他的车库改造成一个蒸汽浴室。

not have an〔the〕 foggiest idea
完全不知道 have no knowledge at all
I haven't the foggiest idea when the next train is due.我完全不知道,下一趟火车预定何时抵达。

put an idea into sb's head
使某人存奢望 suggest sth to sb
No, you can't have a motorbike. Whoever put that idea into your head?不,你不能买摩托车。究竟谁使你有那个奢望的?

run away with an idea
轻易接受(意见、看法等) assume
Don't run away with the idea that you can call me up at any time of the day or night.切莫认为你可以在白天或晚上随时给我打电话。

toy with an idea
不很认真地考虑某个计划 consider a plan〔proposal〕
I'm toying with the idea of going to China for my holiday this year.今年我想去中国度假,但只是随便想想而已。

The firm's directors quickly approved the new idea.公司的董事们很快赞同了这个新想法。
At this moment an idea burst upon him—a glorious idea. 此刻他突然产生一个想法,一个十分美妙的想法。
As generation gap exists, we must bear in mind that the younger people might not like that idea. 因为有代沟的存在,所以我们必须记住,年轻人可能不喜欢这个想法。
I don't think the teacher communicates his ideas clearly.我认为老师没有把自己的想法表达清楚。
He asserted his ideas loudly and clearly.他大声明确地说出自己的想法。
It might be a good idea to kick off with a few folk songs.一开始就唱几首民歌,可能是个好主意。
It's a good idea to bring those old mats into use again.重新使用那些旧席子真是个好主意。
It was Mary's idea that we should hold the party outside.我们要在外面举行聚会是玛丽的主意。
In ideas those two political parties are worlds apart.那两个政党在思想上很不统一。
They look alike but in ideas they are very far apart from each other.他们看起来相似,但他们在思想方面却截然不同。
After a frank exchange of ideas, the two of them finally broke down their long-standing prejudice against each other and became friends again.开诚布公地交换思想之后,他们两人终于解开了长期存在的疙瘩,重归于好。
I don't want to bind you down; feel free to use your own ideas.我不想束缚你的手脚,你可以充分运用你的智谋。
Before you begin to make a speech, you should collect your thoughts and ideas.在你开始发表演说之前,你应当集中你的思想和意念。
Our ideas are bound by the experience.我们的思想受到经验的限制。
▲～+of n./pron.
The report will give you an idea of the problems involved.这份报告将使你对所涉及的一些问题有所了解。
His idea of a good night out is getting drunk and fighting with his friends.他所谓要去外面过个痛快的夜晚,意思是喝醉并和他的朋友打架。
Have you any idea of the time?你知道现在几点钟了吗?
I had no idea of his age.我不知道他多大岁数了。
▲～+of v-ing
Does the idea of working abroad appeal to you?你对去国外工作感兴趣吗?
I don't hold with the idea of postponing further discussion of the matter.我不赞成推迟进一步讨论这件事的想法。
The very idea of going sailing makes me feel seasick.只要一想到坐船我就会感到晕。
She went shopping with the idea of buying some shoes, but bought some boots instead.她去购物时本打算买双鞋子,但却买了双靴子。
What was the idea of telling him that?为什么要告诉他那件事?
▲～+(of) wh-clause
I've got a fairly good idea of what they want.我已经完全清楚他们要什么。
I haven't the slightest idea who she is.我根本不知道她是谁。
He had no idea how food prices had risen, so a day's shopping soon brought him down to earth with a bump!他不知道食品价格涨到了什么程度,一天的采购使他一下子面对了现实!
The police have a good idea how most of the cannabis that is introduced into the country gets past the Customs.警方非常了解传入该国的大部分印度大麻是如何通过海关的。
▲～+that-clause
More and more people go along with the idea that pollution should be settled seriously.越来越多的人赞成这样一个观点:我们应该认真地解决污染问题。
I've an idea that she likes him better than anyone.我有个感觉,她比其他人更喜欢他。
This discovery disproved the idea that the world was flat.这个发现驳斥了地球是扁平的看法。

idea, concept, conception, notion, thought
这组词都可表示“想法,概念”。其区别是:idea是日常用语,使用范围广,指一种“想法”,也可用于学术方面,指“观念”“概念”。conception所指的“概念”“观念”“想法”是哲学用语,指理性的认识与概括的结果。concept指从同类事物中归纳出来的“基本概念”，也指一般人们对某一事物所持有的“观念”。例如:
It is impossible for a blind man to have a conception of colours.盲人不可能有颜色的概念。
Science has overturned many old conception of the universe.科学推翻了人们对于宇宙的许多陈旧概念。
These basic concepts must be kept in mind in our discussion of China's cultural problems.我们讨论中国文化问题时,不能忘记这些基本概念。
notion作“想法”“见解”解时是日常用语,指模糊的观念,无定见的思想活动,一般可和idea通用,但不能作学术用语。例如:
Her notion of delta was a lot of channels and islands.她所理解的三角洲就是许多水道和岛屿。
thought作“思想”“思维活动”解时指经过推理与思考而产生的看法,也指较全面、较系统的思想。例如:
Please let me have your thoughts on the matter.请告诉我你对这个问题的想法。
The thesis is on the scientific thought in the 19th century.这篇论文论述了19世纪的科学思想。

［同义词］   conception, notion, opinion, thought
［词源］  ＜拉丁语 ＜希腊语idea(头脑中的观念)