Idioms containing HEAD
TOP words in categories
BANGING ONE'S HEAD AGAINST A BRICK WALL
to do, say, or ask for smth. repeatedly but to be unable to change a situation
1. I keep asking her not to park there, but it's like banging my head against a brick wall.
2. You're doing your best to sell more, however, it feels like banging your head against a brick wall?
2. You're doing your best to sell more, however, it feels like banging your head against a brick wall?
EYES POP OUT OF ONE'S HEAD
extremely surprised to see smth. or someone
1. When she saw the amount written on the cheque, her eyes nearly popped out of her head.
2. His eyes were popping out of his head with astonishment when he saw how big it was!
2. His eyes were popping out of his head with astonishment when he saw how big it was!
GET (SMTH.) THROUGH (ONE'S) HEAD
to understand smth. that is difficult, especially because it is a shock, unwanted, or unexpected
1. How many times do I have to tell you, I’m not going back to college? When will you get it through your head that I want to go to work instead?
2. Tom couldn’t seem to get it through his head that his company was letting him go after so many years of faithful service.
2. Tom couldn’t seem to get it through his head that his company was letting him go after so many years of faithful service.
HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE
at a much higher level
1. Lisa’s work is outstanding and no one’s comes close to being so good. Her work is head and shoulders above everyone else’s.
2. This performance of the play was head and shoulders above the previous performance. The actors really did an excellent job this time.
2. This performance of the play was head and shoulders above the previous performance. The actors really did an excellent job this time.
HEAD HONCHO
a person with power in a company or organization
1. If you want to spend that kind of money on your project, you’ll probably have to get permission from the head honchos. If I were you, I’d make an appointment with your boss.
2. The director wanted to include a big battle scene in his movie, but the head honchos at the studio wouldn’t allow it.
2. The director wanted to include a big battle scene in his movie, but the head honchos at the studio wouldn’t allow it.
HEAD IN THE CLOUDS, HAVE (ONE'S)
to be impractical or absent-minded; to be unaware of what is going on around one
1. I don’t know where my mind is today—I can’t keep my thoughts on my work. My head is in the clouds
2. Don’t go to Susan for advice; she’ll give you some romantic and impractical solution to your love life. She always has her head in the clouds
2. Don’t go to Susan for advice; she’ll give you some romantic and impractical solution to your love life. She always has her head in the clouds
HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE
very much in love; uncontrollably in love
1. Richard fell in love with Pamela the first time he saw her, and now he can’t think about anything else. He is head over heels in love with her.
2. In the 1960s, many young girls in the United States and Europe fell head over heels in love with the pop singers the Beatles.
2. In the 1960s, many young girls in the United States and Europe fell head over heels in love with the pop singers the Beatles.
HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
to come to the right conclusion
1. Henry wouldn’t tell his wife what was wrong, but when she asked him if he had lost his job, she could tell by the look on his face that she had hit the nail on the head.
2. We sat around the table trying to figure out why the project wasn’t working. Everyone suggested ideas and possibilities. When Leslie outlined what she thought the problem was, we could all see that she had hit the nail on the head
2. We sat around the table trying to figure out why the project wasn’t working. Everyone suggested ideas and possibilities. When Leslie outlined what she thought the problem was, we could all see that she had hit the nail on the head
IN OVER (ONE'S) HEAD
beyond one’s capability (1); to have taken on more than one can cope with (2)
1. Tim can’t compete with these people. They are much more capable in their field than he is. He’s in way over his head.
2. Be careful how much work you take on. Don’t promise to do more than you can handle. Don’t get in over your head.
2. Be careful how much work you take on. Don’t promise to do more than you can handle. Don’t get in over your head.
KEEP (ONE'S) HEAD ABOVE WATER
to just barely manage to stay ahead, financially (1) or with one’s work or responsibilities (2)
1. Mrs. Robinson has three children to support and she doesn’t make very much money at her job. She is barely keeping her head above water
2. Peter is having a difficult time at the university because he wasn’t very well prepared academically, but he is somehow managing to keep his head above water.
2. Peter is having a difficult time at the university because he wasn’t very well prepared academically, but he is somehow managing to keep his head above water.
MAKE HEADS OR TAILS OF (SMTH.)
to understand smth.
1. I can’t hear you clearly because the telephone connection is bad. I can’t make heads or tails of what you’re saying.
2. First Louise turned the book one way, then the other. She couldn’t make heads or tails of the picture she was looking at.
2. First Louise turned the book one way, then the other. She couldn’t make heads or tails of the picture she was looking at.
NEED (SMTH.) LIKE (ONE) NEEDS A HOLE IN THE HEAD
to have absolutely no need for smth.
1. Bonita arrived at work to find a new stack of papers on her desk. “I need more work like I need a hole in the head,” she complained.
2. Don’t subscribe to another magazine, since you already receive more magazines than you can possibly read. You need a new magazine like you need a hole in the head.
2. Don’t subscribe to another magazine, since you already receive more magazines than you can possibly read. You need a new magazine like you need a hole in the head.
OFF THE TOP OF (ONE'S) HEAD
to say smth. without much advance preparation
1. Melissa didn’t know how many people had called, but guessing off the top of her head, she said about a hundred.
2. Richard was unsure what kind of advertising campaign the company wanted, but he made a suggestion off the top of his head and they liked it.
2. Richard was unsure what kind of advertising campaign the company wanted, but he made a suggestion off the top of his head and they liked it.
OVER ONE'S HEAD
too difficult or strange for you to understand
1. I tried to take in what he was saying about nuclear fusion, but most of it went over my head.
2. Most of that lecture was over my head.
2. Most of that lecture was over my head.
PUT HEADS TOGETHER
to plan smth. together; to share ideas in trying to solve a problem
1. If we put our heads together, we can think of a solution.
2. If we can put our heads together we'll figure out a way to deal with this.
2. If we can put our heads together we'll figure out a way to deal with this.
SCRATCH ONE'S HEAD
to think hard about smth.
1. A lot of people must be scratching their heads about which way to vote.
2. All I can do is scratch my head and ask why.
2. All I can do is scratch my head and ask why.
TALK OVER HEAD
to talk about things that one cannot follow, understand, or comprehend
1. Your presentation shouldn't focus on the technical details too much; you don't want to talk over everyone's heads.
2. I hate the way he always tries to talk over my head, as if I'm too dumb to understand what he's talking about.
2. I hate the way he always tries to talk over my head, as if I'm too dumb to understand what he's talking about.
| Go Back |