The following idioms and expressions use the noun ‘head.’ Each idiom or expression has a definition and two example sentences to help understanding of these common idiomatic expressions with ‘head.’
Able to do something standing on one’s head
Definition: do something very easily and without effort
- He’s able to count backward standing on his head.
- Don’t worry about that. I can do it standing on my head.
Bang your head against a brick wall
Definition: do something without any chance of it succeeding
- I’ve been banging my head against a brick wall when it comes to finding a job.
- Trying to convince Kevin is like banging your head against a brick wall.
Beat something into someone’s head
Definition: teach someone something by repeating it over and over again
- Sometimes you just need to beat grammar into your head.
- My father beat the importance of kindness into my head.
Bite someone’s head off
Definition: criticize someone strongly
- Tim bit my head off last night at the party.
- Don’t bit my head off just because I made a mistake.
Bring something to a head
Definition: cause a crisis to happen
- We need to bring the situation to a head to get a resolution.
- The immigration situation brought the political crisis to a head.
Bury one’s head in the sand
Definition: ignore something completely
- You’re going to have to face the situation and not bury your head in the sand.
- He chose to bury his head in the sand and not confront her.
Can’t make heads or tails out of something
Definition: not be able to understand something
- I hate to admit that I can’t make heads or tails out of this math problem.
- The politicians can’t make heads or tails out of the current employment crisis.
Drum something into someone’s head
Definition: repeat over and over until someone learns something
- I had to drum German grammar into my head for two years before I could speak the language.
- I suggest you drum this into your head for the test next week.
Fall head over heels in love
Definition: fall deeply in love
- She fell head over heals in love with Tom.
- Have you ever fallen head over heels in love?
From head to toe
Definition: dressed or covered in something completely
- He’s dressed in blue from head to toe.
- She’s wearing lace from head to toe.
Get a head start on something
Definition: begin doing something early
- Let’s get a head start on the report tomorrow.
- She got a head start on her homework immediately after school.
Get your head above water
Definition: keep going in life despite many difficulties
- If I can find a job I’ll be able to get my head above water.
- Study these pages and you’ll get your head above water.
Get someone or something out of one’s head
Definition: remove someone or something from your thoughts (often used in the negative)
- I’m really upset that I can’t get her out of my head.
- She spent three years getting those experiences out of her head.
Give someone a head’s start
Definition: let someone else begin before you in a competition of some kind
- I’ll give you twenty minutes head’s start.
- Can you give me a head’s start?
Go over someone’s head
Definition: not be able to understand something
- I’m afraid the joke went over her head.
- I’m afraid the situation goes over my head.
Go to someone’s head
Definition: make someone feel better than others
- His good grades went to his head.
- Don’t let your success go to your head. Stay humble.
Have a good head on your shoulders
Definition: be intelligent
- She’s got a good head on her shoulders.
- You can trust him because he’s got a good head on his shoulders.
Head someone or something off
Definition: arrive before someone or something else
- Let’s head them off at the pass.
- We need to head the problem off.
Hit the nail on the head
Definition: be exactly right about something
- I think you hit the nail on the head.
- His answer hit the nail on the head.
In over one’s head
Definition: do something that is too difficult for a person
- I’m afraid Peter is in over his head with Mary.
- Do you ever feel that you’re in over your head?
Lose your head
Definition: become nervous or angry
- Don’t lose your head over the situation.
- She lost her head when he told her he wanted a divorce.
Learn more idioms and expressions in English with resources on the site, including stories with multiple idioms and expressions in context.
Есть в английском языке несколько идиом со словом «head», они довольно просты и полезны для ежедневного общения, поэтому мы решили, что для вас будет неплохо пополнить ими свой лексический запас.
1. Keep one’s head — Тот, кто пользуется данным выражением желает подчеркнуть, что никогда не теряет контроля над эмоциями, способен сохранять хладнокровие в любых ситуациях, и попросту, не теряет головы.
• He always keeps his head. – Он всегда держит себя в руках
А если фраза имеет продолжение — to keep one’s head above the water – это означает «держаться на плаву, справляться с трудностями»
2. Enter smb’s head – а вот это означает «прийти на ум»
• After that idea entered my mind, I was able to alter the experiment and finally achieve some success. – После того, как эта идея пришла мне на ум, я смог изменить эксперимент и в итоге добиться кое-какого успеха.
3. Bring something to a head / bring matters to a head – доводить до крайности, обострять ситуацию, приводить к кризису
• Management’s newest policy has brought matters to a head – последняя политика руководства привела к кризису
4. Head is in the clouds. – Это выражение касается людей, не способных мыслить практично, тех, которые витают в облаках
• The boy has his head in the clouds and does not think about what is going on around him. — Мальчик постоянно витает в облаках, и не думает о том, что происходит вокруг.
5. Если кто-то не может понять что к чему, разобраться в чем-то, он обязательно скажет «I can’t make head or tail of this».
• I’ve been working with the new software for hours, but I still can’t make heads or tails out of it. – Я уже несколько часов работаю с этой программой, но все еще не могу понять, что к чему.
6. Over smb’s head – Очередная интересная фраза, значение которой «вне понимания, выше чьего-то понимания, слишком сложный, чтобы понять».
• All this technical stuff is way over my head. – Вся эта техническая хрень выше моего понимания.
7. Do smth. standing on one’s head. – сделать что-то в два счета, очень легко, без всяких трудностей
• I can write this article standing on my head – я могу написать эту статью в два счете/мне не составит труда написать эту статью.
8. Be off smb’s head. – в зависимости от контекста можно перевести это предложение «быть не в своем уме» или «быть в стельку пьяным».
• Are you off your head? – ты с ума сошел?
9. Если человек не желает привлекать к себе внимания по той или иной причине, о нем скажут «He keeps his head down» — не высовывается, затаился, или старается не привлекать к себе внимание на публике.
• My advice to you is to keep your head down for the moment. – Мой тебе совет, затаись на некоторое время.
Эта идиома также означает «усердно работать, не поднимая головы»
• He kept his head down for weeks before the final exams. – Он неделями не поднимал головы от учебников перед выпускными экзаменами.
10. Scratch smb’s head (over smth.) – с большим трудом понять или осмысливать что-либо, призадуматься, ломать голову.
• She scratched her head over my explanation – ей было трудно понять мое объяснение.
Автор: Дмитрий Сироткин
Подготовил обзор идиом о голове.
Всего их набралось более 60.
Для каждой идиомы даются перевод и пример использования.
Идиомы о превосходстве
better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion — лучше быть лидером малой группы, чем исполнителем в большой группе
Eric, young football player always played for his hometown team rather than moving to a larger city with a bigger team. He thought that it was better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
Кстати, идиомы о собаке
get / have a head start – получать преимущество на старте
The Nigerian athlete had a head start and he won the race.
go head to head with (someone) – конкурировать без явного преимущества, идти голова в голову
I went head to head with Nick all the championship.
go to one’s head – 1. вызывать головокружение 2. вызывать излишнее чувство собственной значимости
The round dance went to Betty’s head.
have a big head – считать себя лучше других
Tom is a good speaker and he has a big head.
head and shoulders above – быть лучше, превосходить
Eric is head and shoulders above previous Emma’s boyfriends.
in over one’s head – быть выше (моих) сил, возможностей
Jack promised to decide this question, but he realized that he was in over his head!
give (someone) a swelled head – придавать самоуверенности
The Rick’s promotion is giving him a swelled head.
Идиомы о риске и опасности
come to a head – достигнуть критической точки
The situation came to a head when the boss refused to pay a bonus to our sales managers.
Heads up! – быть начеку, быть готовым встретить опасность
«Heads up! It’s a dangerous place».
heads will roll – виновные будут наказаны (полетят головы)
The director says heads will roll if we launch the new brand unsuccessfully.
put / stick one’s head in a noose – делать то, что может навредить самому себе (совать голову в петлю)
I stuck my head in a noose when I promised to finish this ugly project on time.
put one’s head in the lion’s mouth – ставить (себя) в опасную или трудную ситуацию
Sam put his head in the lion’s mouth when he played a joke on our HR-director.
put one’s head on the block for – идти на лишения или риски ради кого-то или чего-то
John is ready to put his head on the block for his wage raising.
Идиомы о сумасшествии и тупости
a head case — сумасшедший
The new sales manager is a head case.
bonehead – тупой человек (кость вместо мозга)
Sam is a bonehead. He understands only simple things.
have one’s head examined – диагностировать психические нарушения
Ted is too strange. Maybe, he needs to have his head examined.
have rocks in one`s head – быть тупым или сумасшедшим
My teacher thinks that I have rocks in my head.
head shrinker — психиатр
My son want to become a head shrinker!
out of one’s head – быть сумасшедшим или глупым
The guy at the bus stop was out of his head.
Идиомы о решении проблем
bang / beat one`s head against a (brick) wall – прошибать лбом стену, упорно заниматься безнадежным делом
Sarah is beating her head against a brick wall trying to understand her boyfriend.
bring (something) to a head – обострять (ситуацию), доводить до конца
The politicians needed to bring the situation to a head to get a resolution.
bury / hide one’s head in the sand – прятать голову в песок, игнорировать очевидную проблему
My wife buried her head in the sand and would not talk about our problems.
butt heads with (someone) – спорить с кем-нибудь, сталкиваться лбами
Nick always likes butting heads with other people.
put one’s heads together – решать проблему совместными усилиями (обсуждением)
We put our heads together to prepare the company annual report.
raise / rear its (ugly) head – проблема возвращается через какое-то время
The problem between Lina and Rosa raised its ugly head after some years of calm.
Идиомы о чувствах и настроении
be like a bear with a sore head — быть в плохом настроении
Ivan is like a bear with a sore head when he is travelling by plane.
Кстати, идиомы о животных
bite (someone’s) head off либо bite off (someone’s) head – разговаривать враждебно
Tom want to speak with his mother-in-low but she bit his head off.
fall head over hills – влюбиться по уши
Oh, my God! All my friends are falling head over hills!
Кстати, идиомы о любви
get / put (someone or something) out of one’s head – перестать думать о ком-то или чем-то, выбросить из головы
head in the clouds – в отрыве от реальности (витать в облаках)
You have your head in the clouds if you think Dan loves you.
Кстати, идиомы о погоде
Let your heart rule your head – позвольте чувству взять верх над рассудком
Nick never lets his heart rule his head…
Идиомы о беспокойстве
hanging over (someone’s) head – доставлять серьезное беспокойство
The scandal has been hanging over Linda’s head.
one’s head is buzzing – голова забита мыслями
My head is buzzing all the day.
lose one’s head (over) – становиться озадаченным или помешанным, терять голову
Don’t lose your head over this stress situation.
scratch one’s head – быть сбитым с толку
I’m scratching my head over Paul’s behavior.
trouble one’s head about – беспокоиться о
«You shouldn’t trouble your head about your accommodation.»
Идиомы о понимании
get into (someone’s) head – глубоко понимать другого человека
George is able to get into Joan’s head.
go over (someone’s) head – быть слишком трудным для понимания
The philosophy goes over my head.
make heads or tails (out) of – разобраться, найти значение
Our teacher can’t make heads or tails out of new devices.
Идиомы об уме и рассудительности
have a good head on one’s shoulders – быть умным и рассудительным, иметь голову на плечах
Don’t worry. Mr.Trump is a fair judge and he has a good head on his shoulders.
have one’s head screwed on right/straight – быть рассудительным и принимать верные решения
I like Hellen. She has her head screwed on right.
hit the nail on the head – быть совершенно верным / правым
Bill’s answer hit the nail on the head!
Идиомы о внушении
beat / drum (something) into (someone`s) head – заставлять выучить что-то путем многократного повторения (вколачивать в голову)
The mother tried to beat the rhyme into the son’s head.
get (something) into/through (someone`s) head – внушить что-то кому-то
It was difficult to get it through Dan’s head that we should go out.
put ideas into (someone’s) head – внушать, подсказывать что-то
Lucy’s friends are always putting ideas into her head.
Идиомы о слишком многом
laugh one’s head off – много и долго смеяться
Leslie laughed his head off when I told him my history.
scream one’s head off – много и долго визжать
The old woman fell and screamed her head off.
talk (someone’s) head off – слишком много болтать
My wife talked my head off all the day.
Идиомы о спокойствии и достоинстве
hold one’s head up / high – сохранять достоинство, идти с высоко поднятой головой
Maria is able to hold her head up in any situation!
keep a cool head – сохранять спокойствие в трудной ситуации
Maggie tried to keep a cool head during the divorce.
Идиомы о счете голов
count heads – считать людей (головы)
The teacher always counts heads in the morning.
a / per head – на одного человека
«The tickets were just three hundred dollars a head.»
Прочие идиомы о голове
able to (do something) standing on one’s head – способный делать что-либо легко и быстро
Robert is able to do his job standing on his head.
from head to toe – с головы до ног
Lisa was dressed in red from head to toe.
have a price on one’s head – назначена награда за поимку преступника
Yesterday Bob knew that he has a price on his head.
have eyes in the back of your head – всё замечать, иметь глаза на затылке
Our supervisor has eyes in the back of his head!
keep head above water – держаться на плаву, стараться сохранить бизнес, не влезая в долги
Our sales have decreased so it’s hard to keep head above water.
Кстати, идиомы о бизнесе
need (something) like a hole in the head – не нуждаться в чем-то вообще
My nephew needs this book like he needs a hole in the head.
off the top of one`s head – приблизительно, не долго думая, по памяти
Roger knows all of his colleagues off the top of his head.
stand / turn (something) on its head – изменить значение на противоположное, поставить с ног на голову
My boss is able to turn the argument on its head.
turn (someone’s) head – привлекать внимание
My bright umbrella turned everybody’s head.
wet the baby’s head – выпить, чтобы отметить рождение ребенка (обмыть рождение ребенка)
When his first child was born, David decided to wet the baby’s head.
О чем говорят нам английские идиомы со словом голова? О достаточно разнообразных явлениях и вещах.
В этом обзоре идиом про голову были выявлены следующие области их значений: превосходство, риск и опасность, сумасшествие и тупость, решение проблем, чувства и настроение, беспокойство, понимание, ум и рассудительность, внушение, слишком многое, достоинство и спокойствие, счет голов.
Кстати, интересно сравнить этот список с аналогичным списком тем, получившемся при подготовке обзора русских фразеологизмов про голову: бесшабашность и удаль, глупость, проблемы, ум, входящее в голову, происходящее в голове, выходящее из головы, манипуляция, погружение в задачу, кров, пьянство и трезвость, неадекватность, наглость, раскаяние.
Как видим, при значительном пересечении тем имеются существенные национальные особенности (например, лидирующая у нас тема удали и бесшабашности слабо представлена в английских идиомах).
Итак, голова играет достаточно большую роль в английском языке и жизни. Как, впрочем, и в русском языке и жизни.
Наверное, если бы в этом обзоре не приводились примеры употребления каждой из идиом, он был бы более легко воспринимаемым. Но, с другой стороны, такие примеры помогают лучше почувствовать верный контекст их применения.
В дополнение могу порекомендовать вам следующие статьи:
- Идиомы про работу
- Идиомы про еду
- Идиомы про спорт
- Бесплатные программы для изучения английского
- Обзор сайтов по изучению английского
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Numerous idioms and expressions in English use the word “head”, and they are usually related to emotions and staying in control. In this post, you will get 11 of them explained.
- Keep your head
- Keep your head above water
- Standing on your head
- Lose your head
- Make head nor tail of something
- Get your head around something
- Head over heels
- Off the top of your head
- Shout your head off
- Turn heads
- Hit your head against a brick wall
Idioms and expressions using the word “head”
Keep your head
Meaning: to keep your head means to stay calm in a difficult situation.
Ex: Even during some very difficult times in our family, my mother always managed to keep her head.
Keep your head above water
Meaning: This is a similar idiom. Even so, it is more specific and refers to a difficult financial situation or business problems of some kind.
Ex: Although our business is in a very difficult situation, we’ve managed to keep our heads above water.
Standing on your head
Meaning: if you say that you can do something standing on your head, then it must be very easy.
Ex: This game is so easy. I could play it standing on my head.
Lose your head
Meaning: if you lose your head, then you lose control and become unable to behave sensibly.
Ex: When he heard that he won million pounds on the lottery, Thomas began losing his head.
Make head nor tail of something
Meaning: if you can’t make head nor tail of something, then you can’t understand it.
Ex: I’ve been trying to figure out this programme for quite some time but I can’t make head nor tail of it.
Idioms and expressions using the word “head”
Get your head around something
Meaning: being able to understand something complicated or confusing.
Ex: It took me a while but I managed to get my head around that formulae.
Head over heels
Meaning: This expression usually means being madly in love with someone.
Ex: Juliana was head over heels in love with Damian. She couldn’t wait to see him again.
Off the top of your head
Meaning: if you know something off the top of your head, then you can remember it easily at any time.
Ex: I know my uncle’s phone number in Australia off the top of my head.
Idioms and expressions using the word “head”
Shout/laugh/scream your head off
Meaning: to shout/laugh/scream a lot.
Ex: People at the stadium shouted their heads off when one of the football teams scored.
Turn heads
Meaning: if you turn heads, then you are so attractive that people can’t help looking at you.
Ex: Rita was so beautiful that she turned heads wherever she went.
Hit/bang your head against a brick wall
Meaning: if you hit your head against a brick wall, you are unable to achieve something or accomplish a task. It can be very frustrating.
Ex: I’m just beating my head against a brick wall here – I’ll never understand this math equation.
I hope you enjoyed this post and find it helpful. If you know some more expressions with “head”, please share them in the comments below.
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«Every thing must have a head to direct it; and since this creature is to fly, and not walk, it is really unimportant whether its legs are alive or not.»
So Tip abided by this decision and sprinkled the Gump’s head with the remainder of the powder.
Toto barked at the fox-boy once or twice, not realizing it was his former friend who now wore the animal head; but Dorothy cuffed the dog and made him stop.
«I think we ought to be going now,» said the shaggy man, uneasily, for he didn’t know what the King might take into his head to do next.
The head, without any movement of the lips, answered in a clear and distinct voice, so as to be heard by all, «I cannot judge of thoughts.»
Now there was fresh astonishment; now everyone’s hair was standing on end with awe; and Don Antonio retiring from the head exclaimed, «This suffices to show me that I have not been deceived by him who sold thee to me, O sage head, talking head, answering head, wonderful head!
`Off with his head!’ she said, without even looking round.
The executioner’s argument was, that you couldn’t cut off a head unless there was a body to cut it off from: that he had never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn’t going to begin at HIS time of life.
Into it they went, in the obscure light stumbling across the sleeping-logs of the village bachelors and knocking their heads against strings of weird votive- offerings, dried and shrivelled, that hung from the roof-beams.
«It is a head like yours,» he said, «but it is poorly cured.»
A country fellow, scratching his head, answered him: «I don’t know, measter, un’t I; an’t please your honour, here hath been a vight, I think, between Goody Brown and Moll Seagrim.»
It was only a matter of moments when they would return for my head. They were evidently taking the heads from the sailors aft.
The impact hurled them both to the ground and as Tara of Helium sprang to her feet again she saw, to her horror, that the loathsome head had rolled from the body and was now crawling away from her on six short, spider-]ike legs.
went the dinner-pail against its head, knocking its straw hat a dozen feet away; and that was enough for this Wheeler, also.
A dolorous place it was, this canoe house, filled with groans and sighs, corpses beneath the floor and composing the floor, creatures soon to be corpses upon the floor, corpses swinging in aerial sepulchre overhead, long black canoes, high-ended like beaked predatory monsters, dimly looming in the light of a slow fire where sat an ancient of the tribe of Somo at his interminable task of smoke-curing a bushman’s head. He was withered, and blind, and senile, gibbering and mowing like some huge ape as ever he turned and twisted, and twisted back again, the suspended head in the pungent smoke, and handful by handful added rotten punk of wood to the smudge fire.
02.03.2014
Как известно, чем большую роль играет в жизни общества или нации тот или иной объект, тем больше устойчивых выражений с его названием будет в языке. Не удивительно, что идиомы со словом голова присутствуют во всех языках в огромном количестве. Не исключение и английский язык. Я постаралась подобрать наиболее интересные и часто употребляемые английские идиомы со словом head. Итак, представляю вашему вниманию исчерпывающий список Head idioms.
To be head and shoulders above smb. – быть на порядок лучше;
To come to a head – достигнуть высшей точки;
Head over heels – полностью, совершенно;
Heads up – держать ухо востро;
To get smth. through one’s head – осознать;
To have one’s head in the clouds – витать в облаках;
To hang one’s head in shame — устыдиться, застесняться;
To keep one’s head above water – с трудом выжить;
Over one’s head – сверх чьего-либо понимания;
To make head or tail – пытаться понять;
Heads or tails –орел или решка;
To give a horse his head – отпустить поводья;
To put heads together – сотрудничать;
To make heads against – противиться, сопротивляться;
To rear one’s ugly head – появляться;
An old head on young body – мудр не по годам;
To bring to a head – доводить до конца, обострять;
To hit the nail on the head – высказаться точно;
To go out of one’s head – рехнуться, сойти с ума.
Over head and ears – полностью, по уши;
Head over ears – полностью, по уши;
Head-hunting – поиск специалистов;
To plant an idea into smb.’s head – подать кому-либо мысль;
To place a price on smb.’s head – объявить награду за поимку;
To hold one’s head high – гордиться.
Я буду вам безгранично благодарна, если вы обогатите мой список интересными идиомами.
Поупражняться в использовании английских идиом со словом голова можно здесь.
Понравилось? Сохраните на будущее и поделитесь с друзьями!
There are many words in English that include a name of a body part. There are lots of idioms with body parts as well. In this article we’re going to have a look at the most important words and idioms with the noun HEAD.
| And there’s a really huge number of idioms and expressions with the word HEAD. Let’s have a look at the most important ones.
If people keep telling you how great you are all the time, it may give you a big head. Then they may stop liking you. Even worse if the compliments go to your head. Also, if you drink alcohol, it can go to your head and you can start behaving nastily. We also say that you’re out of your head then. If you prefer to avoid people’s attention, you should keep your head down. There are many idioms that deal with your mental abilities, intelligence, skills, etc. So, maybe you have a head for math, for example. If you don’t, you wouldn’t make heads or tails of all those formulas. By the way, as you can see, there are two body parts in this idiom, heads and tails, although the latter isn’t usually characteristic of humans. Actually, many people have problems with math. They say it’s over their heads. Sometimes it helps if you have a friend who is better at math than you. Then maybe you won’t be left scratching your heads. Two heads are better than one after all. If your friend is really good, he or she may hit the nail on the head with his or her solution to a difficult math problem. You’ll be able to solve all kinds of problems if you put your heads together. |
a big/swelled head – an overly high opinion of yourself
go to your head – to make you believe that you are better than other people or, of an alcoholic drink, to make you feel drunk out of your head – unable to act or think in a reasonable and controlled way because of drunkenness or strong emotion keep your head down – to behave in a quiet way that does not attract attention have a head for sth – to have an ability to understand or deal with sth not make heads or tails of sth – to be unable to understand sth over your head(s) – beyond your understanding or ability scratch your head – to be confused about sth and unable to understand the reason for it two heads are better than one – used to say that it is easier for two people who help each other to solve a problem than it is for one person to solve a problem alone hit the nail on the head – to be exactly right put your heads together – to think of a solution to a problem with another person |
| Sometimes you remember things well, sometimes worse. If you can’t remember something right away, like for example someone’s name, you can say you can’t remember that person’s name off the top of your head. We use this expression also if we can think of something immediately. For example, if someone asks you whether you know someone who speaks French and you can give them an immediate answer, you can say something like this: Off the top of my head, I can only think of my sister who teaches French at college. If you make someone else learn or remember something, you get it through their heads. If it’s you who accepts or understands something, you can say you get it through your head. It may be difficult for you to get it through your head that your friend did something wrong to you, for example. If you are smart, someone may say you have your head screwed on right or you have your head screwed on straight. But if the contrary is true, they may need to get your head screwed on right (or straight). Also, someone may want to knock some sense into your head. The head is the part of the body where emotions are born. Maybe that’s why there are so many idioms related to emotions with this noun. Let’s have a look at some of them. One of the most positive emotions is when you love someone. You may fall or go head over heels for that person. You can also say you two are head over heels in love, or just head over heels. Another positive emotion is that of pride. Even if something goes wrong, you can still hold up your head or hold your head (up) high in other words if you know you did all you could. But there are negative emotions two. What if you have to knock heads with someone you work with for example? Or, what if your employees behave badly and you have to knock their heads together to make them cooperate? Otherwise they may be butting heads over the most trivial issues for ages. In other words, if you are the boss and your employees don’t know how to behave, you may need to go in there and bang their heads together. I hope you’re not the kind of boss who bites their heads off when they ask you for something. Remember that if this is what you do, they may go over your head to your boss, maybe the company’s president, to complain about you. So, if your employees ask you for something, don’t bury your head in the sand if you don’t know how to help them right away, but rather try to find a solution. On the other hand, if you’re an employee, you should do your job as best you can. If the employees make a lot of mistakes and their boss finds out about it, heads will roll. If your boss is a violent person, he or she may lose his or her head and want to knock your head (or block) off, although this would be an extreme situation. Even if you have problems at work, always try to keep your head. Yes, I know, it’s easier said than done. Especially, if you have financial problems. If this is the case, you may be barely able to keep your head above water. Maybe there will be someone who will give you a heads-up that things are going in the wrong direction. But if your company does go bankrupt, it will probably be on your head. If your company was a big and important one, its bankruptcy may have consequences. It may even turn the world on its head, but this would only be the case if your company was head and shoulders above the competition. |
off the top of your head – immediately by thinking quickly about sth
get it through sb’s head – to cause sb to learn and remember sth get it through your head – to accept or understand sth have/get your head screwed on right/straight – to think or act in a smart and sensible way knock some sense into your head – to cause sb to stop thinking or behaving foolishly head over heels – very deeply in love hold up your head / hold your head (up) high – to be proud, to not feel ashamed knock heads – to argue or disagree or (often followed by together) to use angry or forceful methods to control or punish people butt heads – to disagree about how sth should be done bang heads together – to use angry or forceful methods to control or punish people bite sb’s head off – to yell at someone or to be very critical of someone especially very suddenly and without a good reason go over sb’s head – to discuss sth with a person who is higher in rank than sb else bury/have/hide your head in the sand – to ignore sth unpleasant that you should be dealing with heads will roll – used to say that people will be severely punished or will lose their jobs because of sth that has happened lose your head – to become very upset or angry knock sb’s head/block off – to hit sb very hard keep your head – to remain calm keep your head above water – to avoid financial failure while having money problems heads-up – a message that tells or warns sb about sth that is going to happen on one’s head – used to say that one will be blamed for sth; it also means in or into great disorder. head and shoulders above – used to say that sb or sth is much better than others |
Head Idioms: Idioms are small sentences or excerpts from longer ones, which have been taken in order to be used metaphorically, or in simpler words, to denote something other than its literal meaning. The subject of most idioms have been derived from everyday life, be it some animal around us or a body part or an object.
Hence idioms can be categorized as per its subject. Using our body parts, there can be head idioms, foot idioms, hand idioms, heart idioms, so on and so forth.
Here in this specific article, we are going to discuss about some idioms, the subject of which is the most vital part of our body, the head. The head phrase examples or examples of head idioms can be broadly distributed into five categories, according to the different functions of the brain.
Enrich your Vocabulary by practicing the English Idioms that are commonly used in everyday conversations and understand their actual meaning.
There are idioms where the Head is seen as the representative of man, in others it can be found as the seat of mental faculty, as the point of emotions, as a sign of power and in some, as a mark of value.
A thorough study and understanding head idioms and phrases, give us an idea of cross-cultural similarities and differences in the way the Head has been conceptualized.
Names of Head Idioms
- Meanings and examples of some commonly used head idioms
List of Head Idioms
- Able to do something standing on one’s head
- Bang your head against a wall
- Beat something into someone’s head
- Bite someone’s head off
- Bring to a head
- Off the top of your head
- Head-to-head
- Bury one’s head in the sand
- Can’t make heads or tails out of something
- Drum something into someone’s head
- Head over heels in love
- From head to toe
- Have your head in the clouds
- Head start
- Get your head above water
- Get someone or something out of one’s head
- Give someone a head’s start
- Go to someone’s head
- Have a good head on your shoulders
- Head someone or something off
- Hit the nail on the head
- In over one’s head
- Lose your head
- Head and shoulders above
- Use your head
- Keep your head down
- Two heads are better than one
- Laugh your head off
- Go over your head
- Rear Its Ugly Head
Meanings and examples of some commonly used head idioms
Able to do something standing on one’s head
Meaning: Capable of completing a task with no difficulty
Example: The topper was able to solve the tough problem standing on his head.
Bang your head against a wall
Meaning: Acting or saying something repeatedly but in vain.
Example: The criminal banged his head against a wall, pleading mercy.
Beat something into someone’s head
Meaning: Spoon feeding or repeatedly trying to teach something to someone, intensely
Example: The coach beat the winning plan into the players’ heads, in order to win the game.
Bite someone’s head off
Meaning: to shout or criticise someone over a simple issue
Example: He is not a person to bite someone’s head off, but his frustration made him do so.
Bring to a head
Meaning: a reason to reach a point of crisis.
Example: The pandemic brought the entire world to a head.
Off the top of your head
Meaning: without thorough analysis
Example: Choosing a title for a book cannot be done off the top of the head.
Head-to-head
Meaning: Confrontation involving two individuals or groups
Example: Cold war was a head-to-head bureaucratic battle between Russia and America.
Bury one’s head in the sand
Meaning: Staying aloof of the bitter truth or reality
Example: His father worked hard to make their ends meet, but Rahul kept his head buried in the sand.
Can’t make heads or tails out of something
Meaning: Puzzling and difficult to understand
Example: I failed to make heads or tails out of the riddle.
Drum something into someone’s head
Meaning: Teach someone by repeated explanation
Example: The tutor drummed the subject material into the student’s head, so that he is able to qualify the competitive examination.
Head over heels
Meaning: Completely in love with someone or something
Example: The way he explained the part, show that he was head over heels with the female character of the play.
From head to toe
Meaning: Spread over the entire body
Examples: The accident left him with bruises from head to toe.
Have your head in the clouds
Meaning: Being ignorant of the problems or issues associated with a situation
Example: After the promotion he had his head in the clouds.
Head start
Meaning: An additional advantage or favour at the beginning of an action
Example: As a penalty, his opponent was given a 2 second head start during the 200 metre race.
Get your head above water
Meaning: Evade giving in to difficulties or failure
Example: Get your head above water, otherwise you will lose everything to gambling.
Get someone or something out of one’s head
Meaning: Try to forget about someone or something
Example: After her death, it was difficult for the man to get his beloved out of his head.
Give someone a head start
Meaning: Having some advantage over other people.
Example: Mariam had quite a head start even before she started to work.
Go to someone’s head
Meaning: Make someone intoxicated or proud
Example: The alcohol made him go to his head.
Have a good head on your shoulders
Meaning: Being someone others can rely on
Example: The team leader had a good head on his shoulders, the team was happy to work under him.
Head someone or something off
Meaning: Divert, deflect or stall on-coming things
Example: The revolution was headed off by giving out a few allowances to the revolutionaries
Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: to say the correct thing
Example: The boss applauded the engineer for hitting the nail on the head, in the machine breakdown issue.
In over one’s head
Meaning: Getting stuck in a complicated situation
Example: On an attempt to complete the work by a short cut, he got in over his head.
Lose your head
Meaning: Losing control over oneself
Example: The unscrupulous behaviour of his colleague during the client meeting, made the boss lose his head.
Head and shoulders above
Meaning: Someone (or something) being better than the others
Example: The partial teacher proclaimed Rahul if being head and shoulders above in the class.
Use your head
Meaning: Thinking and analysing properly to avoid a mistake
Example: Use your head while planning for the future
Keep your head down
Meaning: Be inconspicuous
Example: The spy scout had to keep his head down on the sudden approach of enemy soldiers
Two heads are better than one
Meaning: Having a second opinion is always better
Example: They decided to consult another doctor other than their home physician, as two heads are better than one.
Laugh your head off
Meaning: Uncontrollable laughter
Example: They laughed their heads off at the comedy club.
Go over your head
Meaning: Discussing something with a superior
Example: As the team failed to find a solution, they decided to go over their head
Rear Its Ugly Head
Meaning: Something appearing again and causing trouble just like the last time.
Example: The Wi-Fi network is rearing its ugly head once more.
It’s time for some more idioms and I’d like to dedicate this post to some common expressions we use with the word “head”. They are, in fact, idioms that are used very often in both spoken and written English.
I. I always keep my head.
Meaning: I never lose control of my emotions.
2. It never entered my head.
Meaning: I never even thought about it.
3. I brought matters to a head.
Meaning: I made sure something had to be decided.
4. My head is in the clouds.
Meaning: I’m not a practically minded person.
5. I can’t make head nor tail of this.
Meaning: I don’t understand it at all.
6. I’m in way over my head.
Meaning: I’m involved so far that it’s out of my control.
7. I could do it standing on my head.
Meaning: I find it really easy.
8. The fame has completely gone to my head.
Meaning: I’ve let my feelings get out of control.
9. He’s off his head.
Meaning: He’s gone mad or he is completely drunk (depending on the context)
10. She likes to keep her head down.
Meaning: She avoids attracting attention.
11. They’re still scratching their heads over the results.
Meaning: They’re finding it hard to understand the results.
12. That joke just went over my head.
Meaning: I didn’t understand the joke.
There are plenty more expressions with ‘head’. Why don’t you share some here with me?
I hope you enjoyed this post. If you did please share it and don’t forget to subscribe to my blog if you don’t want to miss out on my posts.
Ciao for now
Shanthi
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Collocations for «head»Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word «head» in context. WordReference English Collocations © 2023 headⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK. n
n as adj
v
adj
additional examples
‘head‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations): |
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