head up
1. Literally, to orient someone or something in the proper direction. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "head" and "up." Head up the animals, will you? We need to get them back into the barn. Joe still missed the hole, even though the instructor headed him up before he swung his golf club. After blindfolding each kid and spinning them around, should I head them up toward the donkey on the wall?
2. To lead some group or delegation. Who will head up the committee for this initiative? Once I retire at the end of the year, Lucy will head up the task force. Who heads up your department? Because I would like to lodge a complaint with them!
heads up
1. An interjection used as a warning for imminent danger or something that one needs to be aware of. "Heads up!" he shouted as the brick fell off the edge of the building. Heads up, the boss is looking for you and she looks angry! At the shout of "Heads up!" the kids playing hopscotch scattered to avoid being hit by the errant baseball.
2. noun A preliminary notice, especially of future difficulty, trouble, or danger; a warning. Often hyphenated. Make sure everyone gets the heads-up about the inspection tomorrow morning. We don't want anyone coming in unprepared. Hey, just a heads-up—the boss is in a foul mood, so don't do anything to attract attention to yourself! Just give me a heads-up if you need a ride.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Heads up!
Raise your head and look around you carefully for information or something that you need to see or avoid. Heads up! Watch out for that door! Heads up! There is a car coming.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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 © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Heads up!
exclam. Look out! Heads up! Watch out for the swinging bucket!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
heads up
Look out; a warning. This slangy interjection dates from the early 1900s. In the later 1900s, the noun heads-up was born with a similar meaning. Thus, “Heads up, John, that branch will hit the power line,” and “Before the book signing Jane gave him a heads-up that some very critical readers would be questioning him.” And James Lee Burke had it in The Glass Rainbow (2010): “‘What’s on your mind?’ ‘Need to give you a heads-up. I got to get some guilt off my conscience as well.’”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer