When you hear a word or phrase that immediately comes to mind, you may want to express it in a variety of ways. There are numerous synonyms that can be used instead of "springs to mind." For example, you could say "immediately thought of" or "came to my mind instantly." Other alternatives include "occurred to me," "struck me," "popped into my head," or "instantly recalled." You may also want to use some more descriptive phrases like "I couldn't help but think of," "constantly reminded of," or "haunted by the thought of." Ultimately, there are many ways to convey the idea of something springing to mind, so feel free to experiment with different expressions and idioms.