wool-gathering

Skipping thus lightly over a matter of such consequence, the thoughts of the hare-brained boy went a wool-gathering after more agreeable topics.

The Abbot 2008

“Come, Doctor, I beg your pardon, but your wits are fairly gone a wool-gathering; it was I invited you to dinner, up at the inn yonder, and not you me.”

Saint Ronan's Well 2008

Manichaeos, his wits were a wool-gathering, as they say, and his head busied about other matters, when he perceived his error, he was much [1994] abashed.

Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

Tibullus, stulti praetereunt dies, their wits are a wool-gathering.

Anatomy of Melancholy 2007

For a minute, perhaps, my mind was wool-gathering.

The Time Machine, by H. G. Wells Herbert George 2006

I cried incredulously, for my wits were still wool-gathering.

Greenmantle 2005

You realize, of course, I'm engaging in a bit of wool-gathering sport.

Dylanology. Ann Althouse 2005

Were you to shepherd too long your wits would certainly go wool-gathering, even if you were not tempted to bleat.

A First Year in Canterbury Settlement 2004

Mr Robarts had come round to the generally accepted idea that Mr Crawley had obtained possession of the cheque illegally — acquitting his friend in his own mind of theft, simply by supposing that he was wool-gathering when the cheque came in his way.

The Last Chronicle of Barset 2004

Gerasimovitch, turning to Nekhludoff, “and your thoughts must have been wool-gathering to let the thing pass.”

Resurrection 2003