1head 
/ˈhɛd/ noun
plural heads or in sense 7 head /ˈhɛd/ noun 1 [count] : the part of the body containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth
▪ She patted the dog on the head. ▪ He nodded his head in agreement. ▪ The ceiling's low—watch your head! ▪ head injuries ▪ They were covered from head to foot/toe in mud. [=they were completely covered in mud] ▪ He has a full head of hair. [=he has a full amount of hair on his head] — see picture at human; see also talking head 2 [count] : a person's mental ability : mind or intellect
▪ You shouldn't let your heart rule your head. [=you should be guided by reason and not by your emotions] ▪ She did some quick calculations in her head. [=without writing anything; mentally] ▪ I keep hearing that song in my head. = That song keeps running through my head. = I can't get that song out of my head. ▪ It never even entered my head to run for office. [=I never thought of running for office] ▪ The problem is all in his head. [=the problem is not real; he's just imagining it] ▪ Don't go putting ideas in/into his head. [=don't cause him to have ideas or suspicions that he would not have himself] ▪ You should put that idea out of your head. [=you should stop thinking about that idea] ▪ She always says the first thing that comes/pops into her head. [=the first thing that she thinks of] ▪ I'm sure we can solve this problem if we just use our heads. [=think carefully] ▪ That guy should have his head examined. = That guy is not right in the head. [=that guy is crazy] ▪ You need a cool/calm head [=an ability to remain calm] to deal with someone like him. ▪ a clear head [=an ability to think clearly] ◊If you have a good head on your shoulders, you are intelligent and have good judgment.
▪ You don't have to worry about her—she's got a good head on her shoulders. ◊When you get/take it into your head to do something, you suddenly decide to do it in a way that seems foolish or surprising.
▪ He's taken it into his head to try skydiving. ▪ I somehow got it into my head to run for public office. ◊If you get it into your head that something is true, you begin to believe something even though there is no good reason for believing it.
▪ She's somehow gotten it into her head that I don't like her. [=she believes that I don't like her although I do like her] 3 [count] : a person who has a specified mental or emotional quality
▪ A fight was avoided when cooler heads prevailed. [=when calmer or less angry people were able to convince others not to fight] — see also hothead, sorehead 4 [singular] : a distance equal to the length of a head
▪ The horse won the race by a head. ▪ I'm a head taller than you. 5 [count] : the front side of a coin : the side of a coin that shows a picture of a person's head
▪ the head of a penny — usually used in the plural to refer to one of the two choices you can make when a coin is thrown in the air to decide something ▪ I call heads. ▪ Is it heads or tails? [=did the coin land with heads or tails facing up?] ▪ It landed heads up. — compare 1tail 3 6 head [plural] : individual animals
▪ 100 head of cattle 7 [count] a : an end of something that is like a head in shape or position — usually singular — often + of ▪ She placed the pillows at the head of the bed. ▪ We arrived early so that we'd be at the head [=front] of the line. ▪ The chairman sat at the head of the table. ▪ the head [=top] of a nail/pin/screw — compare foot
b : the part of an object that hits or touches something else
▪ a grinding head ▪ the hammer's head — often + of ▪ the head of a spear ▪ the head of a golf club — see also arrowhead, spearhead, warhead 8 [noncount] : the position of being a leader
▪ She's at the head of her class. [=she is the best student in her class] 9 [count] a : a person who leads or directs a group or organization
▪ Have you met the new department head? — often + of ▪ She is the head of our sales division. ▪ heads of families/households ▪ heads of state [=leaders of countries] — often used before another noun ▪ the restaurant's head cook ▪ the team's head coach
b chiefly Brit : head teacher 10 [count] : a tight mass of leaves or flowers on a plant
▪ The flower heads on the plant are very large. ▪ a head of cabbage/lettuce ▪ a head of garlic 11 [count] : the place where a stream or river begins — usually singular ▪ the head of the Nile 12 [singular] : pressure caused by the water or steam in a machine ◊When an engine has a full head of steam, it has built up a full amount of power. This phrase is often used figuratively to describe something that is moving forward in a fast and powerful way.
▪ The project started slowly, but now we have a full head of steam. 13 [count] : the bubbles that form on the top of some liquids (such as beer) — usually singular ▪ the foamy head on a beer 14 [singular] : the point at which a situation becomes very serious or when action is required
▪ Things came to a head when the workers threatened to go on strike. ▪ These new revelations brought the scandal to a head. 15 [count] : a small, inflamed area on the skin with a spot in the middle — see also blackhead
▪ She patted the dog on the head. ▪ He nodded his head in agreement. ▪ The ceiling's low—watch your head! ▪ head injuries ▪ They were covered from head to foot/toe in mud. [=they were completely covered in mud] ▪ He has a full head of hair. [=he has a full amount of hair on his head] — see picture at human; see also talking head
▪ You shouldn't let your heart rule your head. [=you should be guided by reason and not by your emotions] ▪ She did some quick calculations in her head. [=without writing anything; mentally] ▪ I keep hearing that song in my head. = That song keeps running through my head. = I can't get that song out of my head. ▪ It never even entered my head to run for office. [=I never thought of running for office] ▪ The problem is all in his head. [=the problem is not real; he's just imagining it] ▪ Don't go putting ideas in/into his head. [=don't cause him to have ideas or suspicions that he would not have himself] ▪ You should put that idea out of your head. [=you should stop thinking about that idea] ▪ She always says the first thing that comes/pops into her head. [=the first thing that she thinks of] ▪ I'm sure we can solve this problem if we just use our heads. [=think carefully] ▪ That guy should have his head examined. = That guy is not right in the head. [=that guy is crazy] ▪ You need a cool/calm head [=an ability to remain calm] to deal with someone like him. ▪ a clear head [=an ability to think clearly] ◊If you have a good head on your shoulders, you are intelligent and have good judgment.
▪ You don't have to worry about her—she's got a good head on her shoulders. ◊When you get/take it into your head to do something, you suddenly decide to do it in a way that seems foolish or surprising.
▪ He's taken it into his head to try skydiving. ▪ I somehow got it into my head to run for public office. ◊If you get it into your head that something is true, you begin to believe something even though there is no good reason for believing it.
▪ She's somehow gotten it into her head that I don't like her. [=she believes that I don't like her although I do like her]
▪ A fight was avoided when cooler heads prevailed. [=when calmer or less angry people were able to convince others not to fight] — see also hothead, sorehead
▪ The horse won the race by a head. ▪ I'm a head taller than you.
▪ the head of a penny — usually used in the plural to refer to one of the two choices you can make when a coin is thrown in the air to decide something ▪ I call heads. ▪ Is it heads or tails? [=did the coin land with heads or tails facing up?] ▪ It landed heads up. — compare 1tail 3
▪ 100 head of cattle
b : the part of an object that hits or touches something else
▪ a grinding head ▪ the hammer's head — often + of ▪ the head of a spear ▪ the head of a golf club — see also arrowhead, spearhead, warhead
▪ She's at the head of her class. [=she is the best student in her class]
▪ Have you met the new department head? — often + of ▪ She is the head of our sales division. ▪ heads of families/households ▪ heads of state [=leaders of countries] — often used before another noun ▪ the restaurant's head cook ▪ the team's head coach
b chiefly Brit : head teacher
▪ The flower heads on the plant are very large. ▪ a head of cabbage/lettuce ▪ a head of garlic
▪ The project started slowly, but now we have a full head of steam.
▪ Things came to a head when the workers threatened to go on strike. ▪ These new revelations brought the scandal to a head.
a big/swelled head
informal : an overly high opinion of yourself
▪ All those compliments have given him a big head. [=have made him very conceited]
▪ All those compliments have given him a big head. [=have made him very conceited]
a head
: for each person
▪ The price is $20 a head.
▪ The price is $20 a head.
a price on someone's head — see 1price
bang heads together — see 1bang
bite someone's head off — see 1bite
butt heads — see 3butt
count heads — see 1count
eyes in the back of your head — see 1eye
get it through someone's head
: to cause someone to learn and remember something
▪ She's finally gotten it through their heads that she doesn't eat meat.
▪ She's finally gotten it through their heads that she doesn't eat meat.
get it through your head
: to accept or understand (something)
▪ He can't seem to get it through his head that I'm not interested in working with him.
▪ He can't seem to get it through his head that I'm not interested in working with him.
get your head round
Brit : to understand (something)
▪ She couldn't get her head round why he had to leave.
▪ She couldn't get her head round why he had to leave.
go over someone's head
: to discuss something with a person who is higher in rank than someone else
▪ He went over his supervisor's head to complain about the policy to the company's president. [=he complained about the policy to the company's president rather than his supervisor]
▪ He went over his supervisor's head to complain about the policy to the company's president. [=he complained about the policy to the company's president rather than his supervisor]
go to your head 1 of an alcoholic drink : to make you feel drunk
▪ I just had one glass of wine, but it went straight to my head. 2 : to make you believe that you are better than other people
▪ He has never let his fame go to his head.
▪ I just had one glass of wine, but it went straight to my head.
▪ He has never let his fame go to his head.
have a head for
: to have an ability to understand or deal with (something)
▪ She's always had a (good) head for business. ▪ (Brit) He has a head for heights. [=he is not afraid of heights; being up high does not bother him]
▪ She's always had a (good) head for business. ▪ (Brit) He has a head for heights. [=he is not afraid of heights; being up high does not bother him]
have/get your head (screwed) on right/straight
informal : to think or act in a smart and sensible way
▪ She's young, but it's clear that she has her head screwed on right. ▪ You think that's a good idea? You need to get your head screwed on straight.
▪ She's young, but it's clear that she has her head screwed on right. ▪ You think that's a good idea? You need to get your head screwed on straight.
head and shoulders above
— used to say that someone or something is much better than others ▪ They are/stand head and shoulders above the competition.
head in the sand
◊If you bury/have/hide (etc.) your head in the sand, you ignore something unpleasant that you should be dealing with.
▪ He can't just bury his head in the sand every time there's a problem.
▪ He can't just bury his head in the sand every time there's a problem.
head over heels
: very deeply in love
▪ We were head over heels (in love). ▪ He fell head over heels for some girl he met at school. ▪ (US) He went head over heels for her.
▪ We were head over heels (in love). ▪ He fell head over heels for some girl he met at school. ▪ (US) He went head over heels for her.
heads roll
informal ◊If you say that heads will roll or (less commonly) heads are going to roll, you mean that people will be severely punished or will lose their jobs because of something that has happened.
▪ When the boss finds out about the mistake, heads will roll.
▪ When the boss finds out about the mistake, heads will roll.
hit the nail on the head — see 1hit
hold up your head or hold your head (up) high
: to be proud : to not feel ashamed
▪ Even though they lost the game, they can still hold up their heads because they tried their best.
▪ Even though they lost the game, they can still hold up their heads because they tried their best.
keep your head
: to remain calm
▪ She has shown that she can keep her head in a crisis.
▪ She has shown that she can keep her head in a crisis.
keep your head above water
: to avoid financial failure while having money problems
▪ We have so much debt that we're barely able to keep our heads above water.
▪ We have so much debt that we're barely able to keep our heads above water.
keep your head down
informal : to behave in a quiet way that does not attract attention
▪ a politician who is keeping his head down and trying to avoid controversy
▪ a politician who is keeping his head down and trying to avoid controversy
knock heads — see 1knock
knock someone's head off — see 1knock
knock some sense into someone's head — see 1sense
knock (something) on the head — see 1knock
lose your head
: to become very upset or angry
▪ He lost his head and said some things he regrets.
▪ He lost his head and said some things he regrets.
not make head or/nor tail of or US not make heads or/nor tails (out) of
informal : to be unable to understand (something)
▪ I couldn't make heads or tails of her reaction. ▪ His handwriting was so bad that we couldn't make heads or tails out of it.
▪ I couldn't make heads or tails of her reaction. ▪ His handwriting was so bad that we couldn't make heads or tails out of it.
off the top of your head — see 1top
off your head
Brit, informal : crazy or foolish
▪ He's not just eccentric—he's completely off his head! ▪ He's gone off his head over some girl.
▪ He's not just eccentric—he's completely off his head! ▪ He's gone off his head over some girl.
on your head 1 : with the upper and lower parts of your body reversed in position
▪ Can you stand on your head? 2 : in or into great disorder
▪ News of the discovery turned the scientific world on its head. 3 — used to say that you will be blamed for something ▪ If we miss our deadline, it will be on your head. [=it will be your fault]
▪ Can you stand on your head?
▪ News of the discovery turned the scientific world on its head.
out of your head
informal : unable to act or think in a reasonable and controlled way because of drunkenness or strong emotion
▪ He was (drunk) out of his head. [=he was extremely drunk] ▪ Her parents were out of their heads with worry [=were extremely worried and upset] when she didn't come home on time.
▪ He was (drunk) out of his head. [=he was extremely drunk] ▪ Her parents were out of their heads with worry [=were extremely worried and upset] when she didn't come home on time.
over your head
: beyond your understanding or ability
▪ The technical details were over my head. [=too complicated for me to understand] ▪ That joke went right over my head. [=I did not get that joke] ▪ We realized after we started the business that we were (in) over our heads. [=we were trying to do something that was too difficult]
▪ The technical details were over my head. [=too complicated for me to understand] ▪ That joke went right over my head. [=I did not get that joke] ▪ We realized after we started the business that we were (in) over our heads. [=we were trying to do something that was too difficult]
per head
: for each person
▪ The price is $20 per head.
▪ The price is $20 per head.
put/stick/raise your head above the parapet — see parapet
put your heads together
: to think of a solution to a problem with another person
▪ I'm sure we can solve this problem if we just put our heads together.
▪ I'm sure we can solve this problem if we just put our heads together.
rear/raise its ugly head
◊If something bad rears/raises its ugly head, it suddenly becomes obvious or causes trouble.
▪ Inflation threatened to rear its ugly head.
▪ Inflation threatened to rear its ugly head.
scratch your head
informal : to be confused about something and unable to understand the reason for it
▪ His odd behavior left us all scratching our heads.
▪ His odd behavior left us all scratching our heads.
scream/shout/yell/laugh (etc.) your head off
informal : to scream/shout/yell/laugh (etc.) very loudly or for a long time
▪ She was screaming her head off. ▪ You can shout your head off at him, but he still won't listen. ▪ If they saw me dressed like this, they'd laugh their heads off.
▪ She was screaming her head off. ▪ You can shout your head off at him, but he still won't listen. ▪ If they saw me dressed like this, they'd laugh their heads off.
shake your head — see 1shake
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
turn heads
: to attract attention or notice
▪ The car's sleek design is bound to turn heads.
▪ The car's sleek design is bound to turn heads.
