head up


Be in charge of, lead, as in She headed up the commission on conservation. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

How to use head up in a sentence

  • She was saucy the next, moving her head up and down, making "eyes" at Robert and making "mouths" at Beaudelet.

  • After that first moment her strength came back and she held her head up and stared straight into the face of the teacher.

  • They chafed his hands, and continued bathing his temples, keeping his head up, till he gave signs of returning animation.

    Digby Heathcote | W.H.G. Kingston
  • Miss Charlotte she held her head up like a queen while Buck was telling his tale, and her nostrils spread and her eyes snapped.

    Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete | Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
  • Anyway he stuck his head up and tried to catch a light without stopping his bandy.

    Menotah | Ernest G. Henham