goldfish memory
Three-second recall span
A goldfish memory is a very short memory span, from the popular belief that goldfish can only remember things for a few seconds.
The phrase usually appears in self-deprecating contexts: Sorry, I have a goldfish memory—can you remind me of your name?
The underlying claim about goldfish is false; they can remember things for months.
- forgetfulFailing to retain information
- short-termOf limited duration
- amnesiaPathological loss of recall
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- short attention spanInability to sustain focus
bowl · swimming · circles · distracted · zoning out · fleeting · blank · brain fog · foggy · scatterbrained · lost train of thought · absent-minded · recall · forget · hazy · momentary · brief · in one ear
- conventional wisdomearly bird, apple a day, opposites attract, nice guys finish last, patience
- mythsmyth, legend, fable, fairy tale, folk tale
goldfish memoryelephant memory
Exceptional long-term retention ability
photographic memory · eidetic memory · total recall · long memory · never forgets
gold, fish, golden, goldfish, gilded, gilder, gilding, fishes, fishy