on top of my head definition, on top of my head meaning | English Cobuild
head
[headsplural & 3rd person present][headingpresent participle][headedpast tense & past participle]Head is used in a large number of expressions which are explained under other words in the dictionary. For example, the expression `off the top of your head' is explained at `top'.
1n-countYour head is the top part of your body, which has your eyes, mouth, and brain in it.
She turned her head away from him...
She turned her head away from him...
2n-countYou can use head to refer to your mind and your mental abilities.
...an exceptional analyst who could do complex maths in his head.
...an exceptional analyst who could do complex maths in his head.
3n-singThe headof a line of people or vehicles is the front of it, or the first person or vehicle in the line.
with supp
...the head of the queue...
with supp
...the head of the queue...
4verbIf someone or something heads a line or procession, they are at the front of it.
The parson, heading the procession, had just turned right towards the churchyard.V n
The parson, heading the procession, had just turned right towards the churchyard.V n
5verbIf something heads a list or group, it is at the top of it.
Running a business heads the list of ambitions among the 1,000 people interviewed by Good Housekeeping magazine.V n
Running a business heads the list of ambitions among the 1,000 people interviewed by Good Housekeeping magazine.V n
6n-singThe head of something is the highest or top part of it.
usu N of n [=top]
...the head of the stairs..., Every day a different name was placed at the head of the chart.
usu N of n [=top]
...the head of the stairs..., Every day a different name was placed at the head of the chart.
7n-countThe head of something long and thin is the end which is wider than or a different shape from the rest, and which is often considered to be the most important part.
usu with supp
Keep the head of the club the same height throughout the swing.
usu with supp
Keep the head of the club the same height throughout the swing.
8n-countThe head of a school is the teacher who is in charge.
[mainly BRIT] [=head teacher]
[mainly BRIT] [=head teacher]
9n-countThe head of a company or organization is the person in charge of it and in charge of the people in it.
with supp
Heads of government from more than 100 countries gather in Geneva tomorrow., ...the head waiter.
with supp
Heads of government from more than 100 countries gather in Geneva tomorrow., ...the head waiter.
10verbIf you head a department, company, or organization, you are the person in charge of it.
...Michael Williams, who heads the department's Office of Civil Rights.V n
...the ruling Socialist Party, headed by Dr Franz Vranitzky.V-ed
...Michael Williams, who heads the department's Office of Civil Rights.V n
...the ruling Socialist Party, headed by Dr Franz Vranitzky.V-ed
11n-countThe head on a glass of beer is the layer of small bubbles that form on the top of the beer.
usu sing
usu sing
12n-countIf you have a bad head, you have a headache.
[BRIT]
INFORMALusu sing, with supp
I had a terrible head and was extraordinarily drunk.
[BRIT]
INFORMALusu sing, with supp
I had a terrible head and was extraordinarily drunk.
13advIf you toss a coin and it comes down heads, you can see the side of the coin which has a picture of a head on it.
be ADV, ADV after v
`We might toss up for it,' suggested Ted. `If it's heads, then we'll talk.'..., Heads or tails?
be ADV, ADV after v
`We might toss up for it,' suggested Ted. `If it's heads, then we'll talk.'..., Heads or tails?
14verbIf you are heading for a particular place, you are going towards that place. In American English, you can also say that you are headed for a particular place.
He headed for the bus stop...V for n
It is not clear how many of them will be heading back to Saudi Arabia tomorrow...V adv/prep
She and her child boarded a plane headed to where her family lived...V-ed
He headed for the bus stop...V for n
It is not clear how many of them will be heading back to Saudi Arabia tomorrow...V adv/prep
She and her child boarded a plane headed to where her family lived...V-ed
15verbIf something or someone is heading for a particular result, the situation they are in is developing in a way that makes that result very likely. In American English, you can also say that something or someone is headedfor a particular result.
The latest talks aimed at ending the civil war appear to be heading for deadlock...V for/towards n
The centuries-old ritual seems headed for extinction.V-ed
The latest talks aimed at ending the civil war appear to be heading for deadlock...V for/towards n
The centuries-old ritual seems headed for extinction.V-ed
16verbIf a piece of writing is headed a particular title, it has that title written at the beginning of it.
usu passive
One chapter is headed, `Beating the Test'.be V-ed quote
usu passive
One chapter is headed, `Beating the Test'.be V-ed quote
17verbIf you head a ball in football, you hit it with your head in order to make it go in a particular direction.
He headed the ball across the face of the goal.V n prep/adv
He headed the ball across the face of the goal.V n prep/adv
18
heading
heading
19You use a head or per head after stating a cost or amount in order to indicate that that cost or amount is for each person in a particular group.
a/per headphraseamount PHR
This simple chicken dish costs less than £1 a head...
a/per headphraseamount PHR
This simple chicken dish costs less than £1 a head...
20From head to foot means all over your body.
from head to footphraseoft be V-ed PHR[emphasis] Colin had been put into a bath and been scrubbed from head to foot.
from head to footphraseoft be V-ed PHR[emphasis] Colin had been put into a bath and been scrubbed from head to foot.
21If you a have ahead for something, you can deal with it easily. For example, if you have ahead for figures, you can do arithmetic easily, and if you have ahead for heights, you can climb to a great height without feeling afraid.
head for sthphrasehave/with PHR, PHR n
I don't have a head for business.
head for sthphrasehave/with PHR, PHR n
I don't have a head for business.
22If you get a fact or idea into your head, you suddenly realize or think that it is true and you usually do not change your opinion about it.
get sth into one's headphraseV and N inflect
Once they get an idea into their heads, they never give up.
get sth into one's headphraseV and N inflect
Once they get an idea into their heads, they never give up.
23If you say that someone has got something into their head, you mean that they have finally understood or accepted it, and you are usually criticizing them because it has taken them a long time to do this.
get sth into one's headphraseV and N inflect
Managers have at last got it into their heads that they can no longer accept inefficient operations.
get sth into one's headphraseV and N inflect
Managers have at last got it into their heads that they can no longer accept inefficient operations.
24If alcoholic drink goes to your head, it makes you feel drunk.
go to one's headphraseV and N inflect
That wine was strong, it went to your head.
go to one's headphraseV and N inflect
That wine was strong, it went to your head.
25If you say that something such as praise or success goes to someone's head, you are criticizing them because you think that it makes them too proud or confident.
go to one's headphraseV and N inflect[disapproval] Ford is definitely not a man to let a little success go to his head.
go to one's headphraseV and N inflect[disapproval] Ford is definitely not a man to let a little success go to his head.
26If you are head over heels or head over heels in love, you are very much in love.
be head over heels/be head over heels in lovephrasev PHR, v-link PHR
be head over heels/be head over heels in lovephrasev PHR, v-link PHR
27If you keep your head, you remain calm in a difficult situation. If you lose your head, you panic or do not remain calm in a difficult situation.
keep one's head/lose one's headphraseV and N inflect
She was able to keep her head and not panic..., She lost her head and started screaming at me.
keep one's head/lose one's headphraseV and N inflect
She was able to keep her head and not panic..., She lost her head and started screaming at me.
28If you knock something on the head, you stop it.
[BRIT]
INFORMAL
knock sth on the headphraseV inflects
When we stop enjoying ourselves we'll knock it on the head.
[BRIT]
INFORMAL
knock sth on the headphraseV inflects
When we stop enjoying ourselves we'll knock it on the head.
29Phrases such as laugh your head off and scream your head off can be used to emphasize that someone is laughing or screaming a lot or very loudly.
laugh one's head offphraseN inflects[emphasis] He carried on telling a joke, laughing his head off.
laugh one's head offphraseN inflects[emphasis] He carried on telling a joke, laughing his head off.
30If you say that someone is off their head, you think that their ideas or behaviour are very strange, foolish, or dangerous.
[mainly BRIT]
INFORMAL
off one's headphraseN inflects, usu v-link PHR[disapproval] He's gone completely off his head.
[mainly BRIT]
INFORMAL
off one's headphraseN inflects, usu v-link PHR[disapproval] He's gone completely off his head.
31If you stand an idea or argument on its head or turn it on its head, you think about it or treat it in a completely new and different way.
stand/turn sth on it's headphraseV inflects
Their relationship turned the standard notion of marriage on its head.
stand/turn sth on it's headphraseV inflects
Their relationship turned the standard notion of marriage on its head.
32If something such as an idea, joke, or comment goes over someone's head, it is too difficult for them to understand.
be over sb's headphrasev-link PHR, PHR after v
I admit that a lot of the ideas went way over my head.
be over sb's headphrasev-link PHR, PHR after v
I admit that a lot of the ideas went way over my head.
33If someone does something over another person's head, they do it without asking them or discussing it with them, especially when they should do so because the other person is in a position of authority.
over sb's headphrasev-link PHR, PHR after v
He was reprimanded for trying to go over the heads of senior officers.
over sb's headphrasev-link PHR, PHR after v
He was reprimanded for trying to go over the heads of senior officers.
34If you say that something unpleasant or embarrassing rears its ugly head or raises its ugly head, you mean that it occurs, often after not occurring for some time.
rear/raise its ugly headphraseV inflects
There was a problem which reared its ugly head about a week after she moved back in...
rear/raise its ugly headphraseV inflects
There was a problem which reared its ugly head about a week after she moved back in...
35If you stand on your head, you balance upside down with the top of your head and your hands on the ground.
stand on one's headphraseV and N inflect
stand on one's headphraseV and N inflect
36If you say that you cannot make head nor tail of something or you cannot make head or tail of it, you are emphasizing that you cannot understand it at all.
INFORMAL
make head [n]or tailphraseusu with brd-neg, V inflects, PHR n
I couldn't make head nor tail of the damn film.
INFORMAL
make head [n]or tailphraseusu with brd-neg, V inflects, PHR n
I couldn't make head nor tail of the damn film.
37If somebody takes it into their headto do something, especially something strange or foolish, they suddenly decide to do it.
take it into one's headphraseV and N inflect, usu PHR to-inf
He suddenly took it into his head to go out to Australia to stay with his son.
take it into one's headphraseV and N inflect, usu PHR to-inf
He suddenly took it into his head to go out to Australia to stay with his son.
38If a problem or disagreement comes to a head or is brought to a head, it becomes so bad that something must be done about it.
come to a head/bring sth to a headphraseV inflects
These problems came to a head in September when five of the station's journalists were sacked.
come to a head/bring sth to a headphraseV inflects
These problems came to a head in September when five of the station's journalists were sacked.
39If two or more people put their heads together, they talk about a problem they have and try to solve it.
put their heads togetherphraseV inflects
So everyone put their heads together and eventually an amicable arrangement was reached.
put their heads togetherphraseV inflects
So everyone put their heads together and eventually an amicable arrangement was reached.
40If you keep your head above water, you just avoid getting into difficulties; used especially to talk about business.
keep one's head above waterphraseV inflects
We are keeping our head above water, but our cash flow position is not too good.
keep one's head above waterphraseV inflects
We are keeping our head above water, but our cash flow position is not too good.
41If you say that heads will roll as a result of something bad that has happened, you mean that people will be punished for it, especially by losing their jobs.
heads will rollphraseV inflects
The group's problems have led to speculation that heads will roll.head off
heads will rollphraseV inflects
The group's problems have led to speculation that heads will roll.head off
1phrasal verbIf you head off a person, animal, or vehicle, you move to a place in front of them in order to capture them or make them change the direction they are moving in.
He changed direction swiftly, turned into the hallway and headed her off.V n P, Also V P n [not pron]
He changed direction swiftly, turned into the hallway and headed her off.V n P, Also V P n [not pron]
2phrasal verbIf you head something off, especially something unpleasant, you take action before it is expected to happen in order to prevent it from happening.
He would ask Congress to intervene and head off a strike...V P n [not pron]
You have to be good at spotting trouble on the way and heading it off.V n Phead upphrasal verbThe person who heads up a group, organization, or activity is the leader of it.
Judge Frederick Lacey headed up the investigation...V P n [not pron]
We asked ourselves what we wanted from our management structure and who we wanted to head it up.V n P
He would ask Congress to intervene and head off a strike...V P n [not pron]
You have to be good at spotting trouble on the way and heading it off.V n Phead upphrasal verbThe person who heads up a group, organization, or activity is the leader of it.
Judge Frederick Lacey headed up the investigation...V P n [not pron]
We asked ourselves what we wanted from our management structure and who we wanted to head it up.V n P
big head[big headsplural]If you describe someone as a big head, you disapprove of them because they think they are very clever and know everything.
INFORMALn-count
[disapproval] [=know-all]
INFORMALn-count
[disapproval] [=know-all]
dead-head[dead-headsplural & 3rd person present][dead-headingpresent participle][dead-headedpast tense & past participle], deadhead
1verbTo dead-head a plant which is flowering means to remove all the dead flowers from it.
[BRIT]
Dead-head roses as the blooms fade.V n
[BRIT]
Dead-head roses as the blooms fade.V n
2n-countIf you say that someone is a deadhead, you mean that they are stupid or slow.
[AM]
INFORMAL
[AM]
INFORMAL
head boy[head boysplural]The head boy of a school is the boy who is the leader of the prefects and who often represents the school on public occasions.
[BRIT]n-count
[BRIT]n-count
head-butt[head-buttsplural & 3rd person present][head-buttingpresent participle][head-buttedpast tense & past participle], headbuttIf someone head-butts you, they hit you with the top of their head.verb
He was said to have head-butted one policeman and stamped on another's hand.V n
Head-butt is also a noun., n-count
The cuts on Colin's head could only have been made by head-butts.
He was said to have head-butted one policeman and stamped on another's hand.V n
Head-butt is also a noun., n-count
The cuts on Colin's head could only have been made by head-butts.
head count[head countsplural]If you do a head count, you count the number of people present. You can also use head count to talk about the number of people that are present at an event, or that an organization employs.n-count
head-first, headfirst
If you move head-first in a particular direction, your head is the part of your body that is furthest forward as you are moving.advADV after v
He had apparently fallen head-first down the stairwell...
If you move head-first in a particular direction, your head is the part of your body that is furthest forward as you are moving.advADV after v
He had apparently fallen head-first down the stairwell...
head girl[head girlsplural]The head girl of a school is the girl who is the leader of the prefects and who often represents the school on public occasions.
[BRIT]n-count
[BRIT]n-count
head of state[heads of stateplural]A head of state is the leader of a country, for example a president, king, or queen.n-count
head-on
1advIf two vehicles hit each other head-on, they hit each other with their fronts pointing towards each other.
ADV after v
Pulling out to overtake, the car collided head-on with a van.
Head-on is also an adjective., adjADJ n
Their car was in a head-on smash with an articulated lorry.
ADV after v
Pulling out to overtake, the car collided head-on with a van.
Head-on is also an adjective., adjADJ n
Their car was in a head-on smash with an articulated lorry.
2adjA head-on conflict or approach is direct, without any attempt to compromise or avoid the issue.
ADJ n
The only victors in a head-on clash between the president and the assembly would be the hardliners on both sides.
Head-on is also an adverb., advADV after v
Once again, I chose to confront the issue head-on.
ADJ n
The only victors in a head-on clash between the president and the assembly would be the hardliners on both sides.
Head-on is also an adverb., advADV after v
Once again, I chose to confront the issue head-on.
head start[head startsplural]If you have a head starton other people, you have an advantage over them in something such as a competition or race.n-countusu sing, oft N on/over n
A good education gives your child a head start in life.
A good education gives your child a head start in life.
head teacher[head teachersplural], headteacherA head teacher is a teacher who is in charge of a school.
[BRIT]n-count [=head]
[BRIT]n-count [=head]
head-to-head[head-to-headsplural]
1adjA head-to-head contest or competition is one in which two people or groups compete directly against each other.
usu ADJ n
He won a head-to-head battle with NF leader Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Head-to-head is also an adverb., advv ADV
Canadian business cannot compete head-to-head with American business.
usu ADJ n
He won a head-to-head battle with NF leader Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Head-to-head is also an adverb., advv ADV
Canadian business cannot compete head-to-head with American business.
2n-countA head-to-head is a head-to-head contest or competition.
usu sing
...a head-to-head between the champion and the aspiring champion.
usu sing
...a head-to-head between the champion and the aspiring champion.
talking head[talking headsplural]Talking heads are people who appear in television discussion programmes and interviews to give their opinions about a topic.[JOURNALISM]n-count
[=pundit]
[=pundit]
-
SMH abbr. acron.Short for "shaking my head".
Used to convey your disappointment at someone doing or saying something utterly stupid. -
top that! exp.You say 'top that!' when you have achieved something and you want to challenge other people to do better
I know four celebrities - top that! - top-down adj.something that is top-down comes from the top of a hierarchy and is passed down to the lower ranking members
- AFAIK exp.acronym of As Far As I Know, from the best of my knowledge, according to the information that I have
-
muffin top exp.informal term used to describe the flab in the abdominal area rolling over tight clothes
from the resemblance with a muffin whose top exceeds the margins of the paper it is baked in - OMG exp.Oh My God
-
omw adv.on my way
acronym, sms language -
my creys exp.an expression used to when you are about to cry
Ex. : oh my creys! -
pardon my French id.the phrase is uttered in an attempt to excuse the user of profanity or curses in the presence of those offended by it under the pretense of the words being part of a foreign language
Syn.: excuse my French - I rest my case n.Phrase used when someone has brought all the evidences to support his point of view; "I'm done with explanations"
-
hit the nail on the head v.do or say something exactly right
My bestie hit the nail on the head when she figured out why I was worried. Identifying the specific cause of the failure, the technician hit the nail on the head. - LMFAO exp.laughing my fucking ass off
- love me, love my dog exp.expression used for pointing out that, if you love someone, you accept also things and people dear to the person you love
- FML abbr. acron.Short for "Fuck My Life".
- IMO abbr. acron.Short for "In My Opinion".
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Alphabetical index
- head up
- head boy
- head band
- head off
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