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Sb70012 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Alex, what's your idea of this painting?

Hello,
As you know, one of the meanings of the word [idea] is [notion or conception]

Context: suppose that I'm showing you a famous painting. Then, can I use the word idea in this context or not?

Look at my example:

Alex, what's your idea of this painting? == (Alex, what's your conception of this painting?)

Does this work? If not, then why?

Thank you
  

Top answer

I find it strange. " is normally used in reference to something abstract, something that isn't clearly defined, or something that exists only in someone's mind: What's your idea of a perfect day? So it doesn't work for me in the context of a tangible painting.

— Ozzourti

  • I find it strange.
  • " is normally used in reference to something abstract, something that isn't clearly defined, or something that exists only in someone's mind: What's your idea of a perfect day?
  • So it doesn't work for me in the context of a tangible painting.
  • , What do you think of this painting?
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3 Answers
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I find it strange.

"What's your idea of X?" is normally used in reference to something abstract, something that isn't clearly defined, or something that exists only in someone's mind:

What's your idea of a perfect day?

So it doesn't work for me in the context of a tangible painting.

Perhaps you mean, e.g., What do you think of this painting?
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Alex, what are your ideas about this painting?
What ideas does this painting evoke?
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Everybody, thank you for answering but I got confused.
Why doe [ideas about] work in my context but [idea of] doe not?

Aren't they similar?
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