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heads up
interjection
(used interjectionally to call attention to an impending danger or the need for immediate alertness).
Origin:
1940–45
1940–45
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Heads up
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
the upper part of the body in humans, joined to the trunk by the neck, containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
2.
the corresponding part of the body in other animals.
3.
the head considered as the center of the intellect, as of thought, memory, understanding, or emotional control; mind; brain: She has a good head for mathematics. Keep a cool head in an emergency.
4.
the position or place of leadership, greatest authority, or honor.
5.
EXPANDa person to whom others are subordinate, as the director of an institution or the manager of a department; leader or chief.
6.
a person considered with reference to his or her mind, disposition, attributes, status, etc.: wise heads; crowned heads.
7.
that part of anything that forms or is regarded as forming the top, summit, or upper end: head of a pin; head of a page.
8.
the foremost part or front end of anything or a forward projecting part: head of a procession.
9.
the part of a weapon, tool, etc., used for striking: the head of a hammer.
10.
a person or animal considered merely as one of a number, herd, or group: ten head of cattle; a dinner at $20 a head.
11.
a culminating point, usually of a critical nature; crisis or climax: to bring matters to a head.
12.
the hair covering the head: to wash one's head.
13.
froth or foam at the top of a liquid: the head on beer.
14.
Botany.
a.
any dense flower cluster or inflorescence.
b.
any other compact part of a plant, usually at the top of the stem, as that composed of leaves in the cabbage or lettuce, of leafstalks in the celery, or of flower buds in the cauliflower.
15.
the maturated part of an abscess, boil, etc.
16.
a projecting point of a coast, especially when high, as a cape, headland, or promontory.
17.
the obverse of a coin, as bearing a head or other principal figure (opposed to tail).
18.
one of the chief parts or points of a written or oral discourse; a main division of a subject, theme, or topic.
19.
something resembling a head in form or a representation of a head, as a piece of sculpture.
20.
the source of a river or stream.
21.
Slang.
a.
a habitual user of a drug, especially LSD or marijuana (often used in combination): feds versus the heads; an acid-head; a pothead.
b.
a fan or devotee (usually used in combination): a punk-rock head; a chili head.
22.
23.
24.
a toilet or lavatory, especially on a boat or ship.
25.
Nautical.
a.
the forepart of a vessel; bow.
b.
the upper edge of a quadrilateral sail.
c.
the upper corner of a jib-headed sail.
d.
that part of the upper end of one spar of a mast that is overlapped by a spar above; a doubling at the upper end of a spar.
e.
that part of the upper end of a mast between the highest standing rigging and the truck.
f.
crown (def. 28).
26.
27.
the stretched membrane covering the end of a drum or similar musical instrument.
28.
Mining. a level or road driven into solid coal for proving or working a mine.
29.
Machinery. any of various devices on machine tools for holding, moving, indexing, or changing tools or work, as the headstock or turret of a lathe.
30.
Railroads. railhead (def. 3).
31.
(loosely) the pressure exerted by confined fluid: a head of steam.
32.
Also called pressure head. Hydraulics.
a.
the vertical distance between two points in a liquid, as water, or some other fluid
b.
the pressure differential resulting from this separation, expressed in terms of the vertical distance between the points.
c.
the pressure of a fluid expressed in terms of the height of a column of liquid yielding an equivalent pressure.
33.
Also called magnetic head. Electronics. the part or parts of a tape recorder that record, play back, or erase magnetic signals on magnetic tape. Compare erasing head, playback head, recording head.
34.
Computers. read/write head.
35.
Photography.
a.
a mounting for a camera, as on a tripod.
b.
the part of an enlarger that contains the light source, negative carrier, lensboard, and lens.
36.
Slang: Vulgar. fellatio.
37.
Archaic. power, strength, or force progressively gathered or gradually attained.
38.
COLLAPSEheads up! Informal. be careful! watch out for danger!
adjective
39.
first in rank or position; chief; leading; principal: a head official.
40.
of, pertaining to, or for the head (often used in combination): head covering; headgear; headpiece.
41.
situated at the top, front, or head of anything (often used in combination): headline; headboard.
42.
43.
Slang. of or pertaining to drugs, drug paraphernalia, or drug users.
verb (used with object)
44.
to go at the head of or in front of; lead; precede: to head a list.
45.
46.
47.
to direct the course of; turn the head or front of in a specified direction: I'll head the boat for the shore. Head me in the right direction and I'll walk to the store.
48.
EXPANDto go around the head of (a stream).
49.
to furnish or fit with a head.
50.
to take the head off; decapitate; behead.
51.
to remove the upper branches of (a tree).
52.
Fox Hunting. to turn aside (a fox) from its intended course.
53.
to get in front of in order to stop, turn aside, attack, etc.
54.
headline (def. 4).
55.
COLLAPSESoccer. to propel (the ball) by striking it with the head, especially with the forehead.
verb (used without object)
Verb phrase56.
to move forward toward a point specified; direct one's course; go in a certain direction: to head toward town.
58.
(of a river or stream) to have the head or source where specified.
59.
Idiomshead off, to go before in order to hinder the progress of; intercept: The police headed off the fleeing driver at a railroad crossing.
60.
(down) by the head, Nautical. so loaded as to draw more water forward than aft.
61.
come to a head,
a.
to suppurate, as a boil.
b.
to reach a crisis; culminate: The struggle for power came to a head.
62.
get one's head together, Slang. to have one's actions, thoughts, or emotions under control or in order: If he'd get his head together, maybe he'd get to work on time.
63.
give head, Slang: Vulgar. perform fellatio.
64.
EXPANDgive someone his/her head, to permit someone to do as he or she likes; allow someone freedom of choice: She wanted to go away to college, and her parents gave her her head.
65.
go to someone's head,
a.
to make someone dizzy or drunk; overcome one with excitement: Power went to his head. The brandy went to his head.
b.
to make someone conceited or self-important: Success went to his head.
66.
hang one's head, to become dejected or ashamed: When he realized what an unkind thing he had done, he hung his head in shame. Also, hide one's head.
67.
head and shoulders,
a.
far better, more qualified, etc.; superior: In intelligence, he was head and shoulders above the rest of the children in the class.
b.
Archaic. by force.
68.
head over heels,
a.
headlong, as in a somersault: He tripped and fell head over heels into the gully.
b.
intensely; completely: head over heels in love.
c.
impulsively; carelessly: They plunged head over heels into the fighting.
69.
head to head, in direct opposition or competition: The candidates will debate head to head.
70.
keep one's head, to remain calm or poised, as in the midst of crisis or confusion: It was fortunate that someone kept his head and called a doctor.
71.
keep one's head above water, to remain financially solvent: Despite their debts, they are managing to keep their heads above water.
72.
lay/put heads together, to meet in order to discuss, consult, or scheme: Neither of them had enough money for a tour of Europe, so they put their heads together and decided to find jobs there.
73.
lose one's head, to become uncontrolled or wildly excited: When he thought he saw an animal in the underbrush, he lost his head and began shooting recklessly.
74.
make head, to progress or advance, especially despite opposition; make headway: There have been many delays, but we are at last making head.
75.
make heads roll, to exert authority by firing or dismissing employees or subordinates: He made heads roll as soon as he took office.
76.
not make head or tail of, to be unable to understand or decipher: We couldn't make head or tail of the strange story. Also, not make heads or tails of.
77.
off the top of one's head, candidly or extemporaneously: Off the top of my head, I'd say that's right.
78.
one's head off, extremely; excessively: We screamed our heads off at that horror movie. He laughed his head off at the monkey's antics.
79.
on one's head, as one's responsibility or fault: Because of his reckless driving he now has the deaths of three persons on his head.
80.
out of one's head/mind,
a.
insane; crazy.
b.
Informal. delirious; irrational: You're out of your head if you accept those terms.
81.
over one's head,
a.
beyond one's comprehension, ability, or resources: The classical allusion went right over his head.
b.
beyond one's financial resources or ability to pay: He's lost over his head in that poker game.
82.
over someone's head, to appeal to someone having a superior position or prior claim: She went over her supervisor's head and complained to a vice president.
83.
pull one's head in, Australian Slang. to keep quiet or mind one's own business; shut up.
84.
take it into one's head, to form a notion, purpose, or plan: She took it into her head to study medicine. Also, take into one's head.
85.
COLLAPSEturn someone's head,
a.
to cause someone to become smug or conceited: Her recent success has completely turned her head.
b.
to cause one to become foolish or confused: A whirlwind romance has quite turned his head.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English he(v)ed, Old English hēafod; cognate with Old High German houbit, Gothic haubith; akin to Old English hafud- (in hafudland headland), Old Norse hǫfuth, Latin caput (see capital1)
before 900; Middle English he(v)ed, Old English hēafod; cognate with Old High German houbit, Gothic haubith; akin to Old English hafud- (in hafudland headland), Old Norse hǫfuth, Latin caput (see capital1)
Related forms
head·like, adjective
mul·ti·head, noun
Synonyms
5. commander, superior, master, principal, superintendent, president, chairman. 39. cardinal, foremost, supreme, main. 45. surpass, beat. 46. direct, command, rule, govern.
5. commander, superior, master, principal, superintendent, president, chairman. 39. cardinal, foremost, supreme, main. 45. surpass, beat. 46. direct, command, rule, govern.
Antonyms
1. foot. 39. subordinate.
1. foot. 39. subordinate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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|
Link To heads up
Collins
World English Dictionary
| heads up | |
| —n | |
| (US), (Canadian) a tip-off or small amount of information given in advance | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
head
O.E. heafod "top of the body," also "upper end of a slope," also "chief person, leader, ruler," from P.Gmc. *khaubuthan (cf. O.S. hobid, O.N. hofuð, O.Fris. haved, Ger. Haupt, Goth. haubiþ "head"), from PIE *kauput- "head" (cf. Skt. kaput-, L. caput "head"), also "bowl" (as in skull). Modern
EXPANDspelling is c.1420, representing what was then a long vowel (as in heat). Meaning "obverse of a coin" is from 1684; meaning "foam on a mug of beer" is first attested 1545; meaning "toilet" is from 1748, based on location of crew toilet in the bow (or head) of a ship. Synechdochic use for "person" (as in head count) is first attested 1535; of cattle, etc., in this sense from 1513. To give head "perform fellatio" is from 1950s. Meaning "drug addict" (usually in a compound with the preferred drug as the first element) is from 1911. The verb head "to shape one's course toward" (1835) was originally nautical. Header "head-first dive or plunge" first attested 1849. Headlight is from 1861, originally of ships and locomotives. Headquarters is from 1647. Headstrong "determined to have one's way" is from 1398. Headroom "space above the head" first recorded 1851. Headphone is 1914, with second element extracted from telephone. Phrase head over heels is "a curious perversion" [Weekley] of M.E. heels over head. Phrase heads will roll "people will be punished" (1930) translates Adolf Hitler.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
head (hěd)
n.
The uppermost or forwardmost part of the human body, containing the brain and the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and jaws.
The analogous part of various vertebrate and invertebrate animals.
The pus-containing tip of an abscess, a boil, or a pimple.
The rounded proximal end of a long bone.
The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Slang Dictionary
head definition
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
heads up
A warning to watch out for potential danger, as in Heads up, that tree is coming down now! The expression is generally in the form of an interjection. [c. 1940]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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