a subject on which there are, or may be, different opinions, which may be discussed but not, as yet, settled

Lack of bars is a moot point. Google

Abbott wants more board oversight, others say a moot point. Google

Moot Point. Are you then saying that people who are uncertain
about the appropariate usage of the word moot should remain mute? Google

greatly mistaken

But unless I am much mistaken, the ingestion of strange materials really is proliferating.  BNCI

Joan's meeting with her Edward will be, unless I am much mistaken, joy indeed!  BNCI

 It's been built over, of course, but that is, unless I'm very much mistaken, the original survey camp.  BNCI

a writer of essays, poetry, criticism, novels, who is likely to be of lasting literary worth

He leads the busy life of a professional
man of letters, which I gather is not exactly how he wants to be looked at. Google

 Teen is a man of letters in the puzzle world.  Google

He was "The Last Man of Letters" in our increasingly unimaginative age of information.
 Google

speak formally to an audince on a specific subject

For many people, one of life's terrors is to make a speech. Google

Lincoln makes a speech about when you can fool people.  Gogle

Fidel Castro makes a speech on Cuban pirate radio Rebelde.  Google

ask for information or advive from sb who knows more about a subject than you

Then for a couple of hours I picked his brains. Google

I had a long chat with him in Bermuda and picked his
brains. Google

 I picked his brains for a dozen years, but in the last
few years, I really have been listening to his heart.  Google

move forward; advance further toward success or completion

EU makes progress on the definition of family. Google

UNICEF makes progress in child-soldier demobilisation work. Google

"Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress,
no matter how slow." -- Plato  Google

make yourself start thinking clearly and effectively

We all knew that Peter was impetuous, that he spoke before he got his brain in gear.  Google

 Probably the only time he ever got his brain in gear was when he passed his ham licensing. Google

Jim got his brain in gear again. Google

if your mind is not working effectively, you may be bored or very tired

 I am brain dead,cant get down load to work. google

 It never gave me a chance to demonstrate whether or not I am brain dead. Google

Had to work late today, and am brain dead.  Google

not be able to stop thinking or talking about one particular thing

Everyone here has it on the brain. Google

She has it on the brain. Google

They have it on the brain.  Google

make yourself remember sth

It is questionable if anyone has commited it to memory in its entirety. Google

 It was so bad I read it multiple times
and unfortunately commited it to memory.  Google

She has a mind that is like a trap, she never forget's
something once she has commited it to memory.  Google

immediately think of sth

What came to mind when you said this
is the solid rubber tires on super-heavy hauling trucks. Google

Guess what movie just came to mind? Google

A thought came to mind one day as I avoided a cager who just cut me off that sums
up how I feel about riding. Google

cause you to think of sb or sth

Recently, something happened that brought it to mind
and made me think I really should post it. Google

What brought it to mind was something my wife said this weekend.  Google

One of my favorite all-time books and the
scene you painted here brought it to mind. Google

you know it but you cannot quite remember it

It was on the tip of my tongue to say the boss was out. Google

The phrase "Eat me" was on the tip
of my tongue but I choked it back and left.  google

 Her name was on the tip of my tongue and she could see
I felt awkward that I couldn't remember it, so she told me. Google

think very hard

Thompson racked his brains for an explanation.  Google

Over the next few days he racked his brains trying to figure out what the number was. Google

Bill Baker got sadder and sadder (and fatter and fatter, he had to eat everything
he baked) and racked his brains trying to think of healthy and tasty recipes. Google

try to remember sth

Bill, headteacher of a north-east junior school, wistfully casts his mind
back to the end of last term.  Google

But the tempo of his voice raises a notch when he casts his
mind back to April this year, 10th of April to be exact. google

Now resident in England, Terry McQuire casts his mind back in a letter to myself. Google