"I remembered/recalled a joke." This sentence gives the impression that I recalled a particular joke with effort or I simply did not forget a particular joke and remembered it. But how should I express the idea that suddenly something reminded me of an old joke or an old joke came to my mind ?
Top answer
Just exactly the way you said it. Something suddenly reminded me of an old joke. An old joke came to mind.
— Anonymous
Just exactly the way you said it.
Something suddenly reminded me of an old joke.
An old joke came to mind.
An old joke came to me.
Remember and recall don't necessarily mean that that it required an effort to bring the joke to mind, though they can have this sense.
Free · every Monday
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.