head - thesaurus entry

phrases

• a/per head

  for each person

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Shared or divided and not shared or divided: distributed, collective, common, undivided, simple, corporate, personal, indivisible, among, uneven... more

• be/get in over your head

  to be or become involved in a situation in which you do not have the necessary skills, knowledge, or money to succeed

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To be in, or to get into a difficult situation: suffer, undergo, come under, endure, incur, go through, be in dire/desperate straits, be (caught/stuck) between a rock and a hard place, be in the grip of something, not know where/which way to turn... more

• be off your head

  British informal
  to be crazy

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To be, or to become crazy or stupid: be/go out of your mind, take leave of your senses, go mad, lose it, have a screw loose, be going soft (in the head), be off your head, not know your ass from your elbow, stretch... more

• be out of your head

  informal
  to be unable to think clearly, especially because of having taken drugs or drunk too much alcohol

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Not able to think clearly: confused, bewildered, perplexed, dazed, spaced, foggy, disoriented, beside yourself, at a loss (to do something), can’t think straight... more

• cannot make head(s) nor/or tail(s) of something

  informal
  used for saying that you cannot understand something at all

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Ways of saying that you do not know or understand: not that I know of, don’t ask me, your guess is as good as mine, (that’s a) good question, I couldn’t tell you, how should/do I know?, not for the life of me, what is someone on about?, who can say?... more

• a clear head

  the ability to think quickly and calmly in a difficult situation

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Calmness: calm, ease, equilibrium, composure, serenity, cool head, peace, equanimity, control, self-possession... more

• come/bring something to a head

  informal
  if a situation comes to a head, or if you bring it to a head, it suddenly becomes worse

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To make something worse: worsen, compound, escalate, inflame, exacerbate, complicate, do more harm than good, aggravate, add fuel to the fire/flames, make matters/things worse... more

• do someone’s head in

  British informal
  to be more annoying, difficult, boring, etc. than you can deal with

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To make someone angry or annoyed: annoy, provoke, anger, bother, frustrate, irritate, madden, antagonize, infuriate, drive someone mad... more

• from head to toe

  used for emphasizing that you mean all of someone’s body

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  General words relating to the human body: somatic, body, anatomy, figure, physical, bodily, physically, body image, human, person... more

• get up/build up/work up a head of steam

  to start to become active and successful

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To be, or to become successful: thrive, prosper, succeed, win out, be a roaring success, be/get there, get ahead, achieve, flourish... more

• get it into/through your head (that)

  informal
  to understand and accept something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To understand something: understand, know, work out, comprehend, deduce, make sense of something, fall/fit into place, see the light, get the idea, have a feel for something... more

• get something into your head

  informal
  to decide to do something, and be determined to do it even if other people do not like it

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To make a decision: decide, determine, arrive at, conclude, settle, resolve, make up your mind, come down, commit yourself, adjudicate... more

• get someone/something out of your head

  informal
  to stop thinking about someone or something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To forget, or to try to forget: forget, escape, blot out, blank out, obliterate, erase, put something behind you, lose sight of, repress, slip your mind/memory... more

• get your head around something

  British informal
  to understand and accept something that seems strange

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To understand something: understand, know, work out, comprehend, deduce, make sense of something, fall/fit into place, see the light, get the idea, have a feel for something... more

• give someone head

  very informal
  to use your mouth and tongue on someone’s sex organs in order to give them pleasure

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To have sex: sleep with, consummate, copulate, bed, make love, be intimate with someone, spend the night with someone, sleep together, lie with, jump into bed with someone... more

• go over someone’s head

  1. 1

     to go to a more important or powerful person in order to get what you want

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

     To make a request: ask for, invite, request, entreat, implore, call away, order up, send for, insist, want... more
  2. 2

     to be too difficult for someone to understand

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

     To not understand, or to misunderstand: misunderstand, mistake, misinterpret, be unclear about/as to something, not have a clue, have no conception of something, lose your grip (on something), miss the point, misconstrue, get someone wrong... more

• go to someone’s head

  informal
  1. 1

     if success goes to someone’s head, it makes them think that they are better or more important than they really are

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

     To think you are important: condescend, lord it over someone, do something as if you own the place, flatter yourself, think the world revolves around you, queen it over someone, go to someone’s head, get above yourself, go Hollywood... more
  2. 2

     if an alcoholic drink goes to someone’s head, it makes them drunk

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

     Relating to or associated with drinking alcohol: AA, abuse, Al-Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous, alcoholism, binge drinking, cheers, delirium tremens, dependence, designated driver... more

• have a big head

  informal
  to believe that you are very intelligent, important, etc.

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To think you are important: condescend, lord it over someone, do something as if you own the place, flatter yourself, think the world revolves around you, queen it over someone, go to someone’s head, get above yourself, go Hollywood... more

• have a (good) head for figures/business etc.

  to be good at doing calculations with numbers/at doing things relating to business, etc.

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Intelligence, intuition and ability to understand: intelligence, intuition, intellect, vision, common sense, wisdom, judgment, clarity, brilliance, reason... more

• have a good head on your shoulders

  informal
  to be intelligent and able to make good decisions

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Words used to describe intelligent or wise people: intelligent, wise, brilliant, bright, able, discerning, clear-sighted, quick, smart, academic... more

• have your head in the clouds

  informal
  to be thinking your own thoughts and not concentrating on what is happening around you

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Feelings of confusion and distraction: confusion, ambiguity, bewilderment, muddle, puzzlement, delirium, perplexity, fog, mixed message, culture shock... more

• have your head (screwed) on straight

  informal
  to be able to make sensible decisions

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Words used to describe intelligent or wise people: intelligent, wise, brilliant, bright, able, discerning, clear-sighted, quick, smart, academic... more

• head and shoulders above the rest/others

  informal
  much better than all the others

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Best: best, ideal, first class, first-rate, incomparable, unsurpassed, premier, par excellence, there is no substitute for something, second to none... more

• head of hair

  all the hair on your head, especially when it is thick

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  General words for hair and amounts of hair: alopecia, bristle, crowning glory, curl, forelock, frizz, fuzz, hair, hairline, highlights... more

• head over heels

  1. 1

     if you fall head over heels, you fall so that your head goes down and your feet go up in the air

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

     Describing movement up or down: upward, downward, ascending, up, down, bouncy, under, skyward... more
  2. 2

     if you are or fall head over heels in love with someone, you love or start to love them very much

     *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

     In love with someone: devoted, infatuated, besotted, enamoured, doting, lovesick, mad about someone, head over heels, crazy about someone, in the throes of something... more

• heads up

  spoken
  used for telling someone to pay attention or for warning them about something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Expressions used for telling someone to pay attention: right, okay then, hello, all right, see?, just/wait a moment, listen up, hey, look, yo... more

• heads will roll

  informal
  used for saying that people will be severely punished for something, often by losing their jobs

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Ways of warning or advising someone: beware, look out, watch it, end in tears, look before you leap, too many cooks (spoil the broth), it’s a good idea to do something, you can’t be too careful, don’t you dare, if I were you... more

• keep your head above water

  informal
  to manage to live or keep a business working even though you are not earning much money

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To have just enough money: afford, eke out, subsist, get by, scrape by, cover, make (both) ends meet, live from hand to mouth, stretch, scratch a living... more

• knock (someone’s) heads together

  informal
  to speak angrily to people so that they will stop arguing

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To say something, or to speak to someone in an angry way: lash out, tear into, abuse, tell off, scold, rage, jump down someone’s throat, raise your voice, let fly, bite someone’s head off... more

• laugh/shout/scream your head off

  informal
  to laugh, shout, etc. very loudly

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To make a loud sound: bang, beep, blare, blast, boom, caterwaul, clack, clang, clank, clash... more

• like banging/hitting your head against a brick wall

  used for describing an annoying situation in which nothing you do seems to produce any results

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Making you feel angry or annoyed: annoying, irritating, infuriating, maddening, exasperating, unbearable, vexing, pathetic, obscene, frustrating... more

• need your head examined

  informal
  to seem to be crazy or to be doing stupid things

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To be, or to become crazy or stupid: be/go out of your mind, take leave of your senses, go mad, lose it, have a screw loose, be going soft (in the head), be off your head, not know your ass from your elbow, stretch... more

• on your (own) head

  spoken
  used for warning someone that if they do something, they will have to take responsibility for it and suffer the results of it

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  Ways of warning or advising someone: beware, look out, watch it, end in tears, look before you leap, too many cooks (spoil the broth), it’s a good idea to do something, you can’t be too careful, don’t you dare, if I were you... more

• put something out of your head

  informal
  to stop thinking or worrying about something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To be, or to become calm and stop worrying: calm down, relax, wind down, settle, cool down, loosen up, chill, compose yourself, be/feel/look at home, get yourself together... more

• put your heads together

  to think about a problem or to plan something together with other people

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To think carefully or a lot about things: consider, plan, think out, assess, contemplate, evaluate, ponder, take something into consideration, take a long hard look at someone/something, think over... more

• stand/turn something on its head

  informal
  to make someone think in a completely new way about something

  *American English synonyms or related words for this sense of head*

  To have an effect on someone's emotions or attitudes: influence, decide, lead to, grip, stir, skew, give, catch, pack a punch, color... more