be heading for a fall
To be likely to suffer negative consequences in the near future, typically due to one's poor decisions or foolish behavior. With the way he keeps skipping school, he is definitely heading for a fall. Oh, Jennifer is heading for a fall—you can't start rumors about half the school without repercussions. Dude, you're heading for a fall—that girl you're flirting with is dating the captain of the football team!
deadhead
1. verb To drive a vehicle that is empty of freight or passengers. Can you deadhead this truck back to its point of origin? No thanks, I don't like driving enough to want to deadhead trucks. After I drop off this shipment, I have to deadhead the truck back to Seattle.
2. verb To remove dead blooms from a plant, as to promote fresh growth. Your plant might bloom again if you deadhead it. A: "Mom, what are you doing?" B: "Oh, don't mind me, I'm just deadheading some of the plants in your garden." While I plant these flowers here, can you deadhead the tulips?
3. noun, slang One who is regarded as dumb, dull, or stupid. Did you see the guy who's wearing two different shoes? What a deadhead. Geez, he keeps pulling on a door that's clearly marked "push"—what a deadhead. Oh, right, like I would listen to a deadhead like him!
4. noun, slang A fan of the rock band the Grateful Dead. I used to be a deadhead when I was younger, but I've lost interest in the Grateful Dead over the years. Sure, "Touch of Grey" is fine, but I'm really not much of a deadhead. Some of my bandmates are big deadheads, so I've gotten quite an education on Jerry Garcia!
head away from (someone or something)
To move away from someone or something. We're heading away from the entrance—can you see us yet? We headed away from the strange man on the corner who was yelling expletives at passersby. You better head away from there, it's not safe!
head back
To begin the act of returning to some place or thing. Oh wow, it's already time for us to head back? We better head back to school before anyone realizes we cut study hall. Come on, I want to head back before it gets dark.
head down
To proceed or go to some specific destination or event. A: "Are you ready to go to the cafeteria for lunch?" B: "I'll head down in a minute. I just want to finish this report first." I need to head down to the grocery store for some milk. Is there anything else I should pick up? Tom and his friends are all heading down to some comic book convention next month.
head down to (something or some place)
To proceed or go to some specific destination or event. A: "Are you ready to go to lunch?" B: "I'll head down to the cafeteria in a minute. I just want to finish this report first." I need to head down to the grocery store for some milk. Is there anything else I should pick up? Tom and his friends are all heading down to some comic book convention next month.
head for (the) tall timber
To flee and hide, particularly in the bushes or trees. Sonny, the cops will find us if we don't head for the tall timber right now! I think Adam headed for tall timber—no one has seen or heard from him in weeks The foreign army swept into the country, brought down the dictatorship, then headed for the tall timber just as quickly.
head for a fall
To take actions that will likely result in a problem or conflict, typically due to one's past behavior. With the way he keeps skipping school, he is definitely headed for a fall. Oh, Jennifer is heading for a fall—you can't start rumors about half the school without repercussions. Dude, you're headed for a fall—that girl you're flirting with is dating the captain of the football team!
head for the (nearest) exit
1. To depart from some place very hastily, as if fleeing. I'm nervous about taking my new girlfriend to dinner with my parents. If my dad starts telling his stupid jokes, I'm afraid she'll be heading for the nearest exit. If we sound as bad as our sound check, people will head for the exit after the first few notes! At the sound of police sirens, all of the partygoers headed for the nearest exit.
2. To depart or disengage from some situation, arrangement, obligation, etc. All the controversy surrounding the company has prompted many of its financial partners to head for the exit. You better head for the nearest exit, like, now, because I hear you're all getting laid off after the company is acquired. I know you're having problems in your marriage, but you can't just head for the nearest exit when things get hard!
head for the hills
1. To move to higher ground, as in preparation for or response to a natural disaster. There are bound to be tsunamis after an earthquake like that. We'd better head for the hills! Few people had the chance to head for the hills because the massive earthquake hit in the middle of the night as people were sleeping. We need to head for the hills, like, now with the way these floodwaters keep rising!
2. To flee hastily; to clear out or depart quickly. You better head for the hills before Mom comes home and sees what you did to her car. The bandits all headed for the hills when they heard the marshal was riding into town. The staff all headed for the hills when it was announced that there would be a stock-take at the end of the shift.
head for the last roundup
old-fashioned To die. Primarily heard in US. When my grandmother was in her '80s, she always joked about heading to the last roundup. I think in some ways the fact that she treated it so light-heartedly made it easier to bear when she did finally pass away. If the paramedics don't get here soon, this guy's gonna head for the last roundup! A: "Why did I think Edward had already headed for the last roundup?" B: "Probably because he's about 100 years old?"
head for the setting sun
To travel west, in an attempt to elude law enforcement. (The sun sets to the west.) The cops are closing in on you—your best bet is to head for the setting sun. We can't head for the setting sun—I'm from Arizona, so cops will definitely be looking for me there. We headed for the setting sun but only made it as far as Indiana before we were apprehended.
head in
1. To prepare to enter some place or thing. I'm going to head in now—it's gotten quite chilly out here. Lunch is almost over, so why don't we head in? Ugh, it's such a beautiful day, I don't want to head in! All that's waiting for me in there are spreadsheets under fluorescent lighting!
2. To start moving the front end or part of something into some thing or place. If you head in carefully, I don't think you'll hit the cars on either side of the parking space. Of course I didn't realize the curb jutted out like that—I thought I could head in safely! I hate parallel parking. I can never gauge when I'm supposed to head into the space.
head into (something)
1. To move or guide someone or something into some place or thing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "head" and "into." If you head the car into that space carefully, I don't think you'll hit the cars parked on either side. Head the kids into the classroom and get them set up for naptime. I'll get our collie to head the sheep into their pen.
2. To start moving the front end or part of something into some thing or place. If you head into that space carefully, I don't think you'll hit the cars on either side of you. As the deckhands shouted instructions, the captain headed into the empty space at the dock. Because this parking lot can become a real zoo, I'd much rather back into a spot than head into one so I can just pull right out when I'm done shopping
head off
1. To try to stop something from happening. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "head" and "off." I'm calling the editor now to head off this story before they print it. Thank goodness the police were able to head off the sniper before he fired into the crowd! And how exactly are the two of us supposed to head off an angry mob to the mayor's office?
2. To intercept or seize someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "head" and "off." Can you head Mom off before she comes home and catches us having a party here? Janet's going to spill the beans about our plan to the teacher. I think she's going through the library, so if we're quick, we can head her off. If we take this route, we should be able to head the shipment off before it reaches its destination.
3. To leave for a particular place. Louise just headed off to the store, but you can probably still catch her, if you leave now. Attention, everyone: we're heading off at 10 AM. Mom heads off for Sacramento tomorrow afternoon.
head off to (some place)
To leave for a particular place. Louise just headed off to the store, but you can probably still catch her, if you leave now. Attention, everyone: we're heading off to the museum at 10 AM. Mom heads off to Sacramento tomorrow afternoon.
head out
1. To leave some place; to depart. Attention, everyone: we're heading out at 10 AM. Mom is headed out for Sacramento tomorrow afternoon. I'm sorry, Louise just headed out for lunch. Can I take a message?
2. To move something away from something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "head" and "out." If everyone is buckled in, I'll head the car out. If you head the sheep out, how exactly do you plan to get them back into the pen? As the deckhands shouted instructions, the captain headed the boat out of its space at the dock.
head south
1. To escape; to vanish or disappear. (Not necessarily in a southerly direction.) Everyone in the gang headed south when they learned that the police had discovered their hideout. We have to head south—at least until we change our appearance enough that people won't recognize us and turn us in to the cops. How did these crooks manage to head south? I thought they were in police custody!
2. To fall or drop; to depreciate; to lose quality or value. (Especially related to finances or stock exchanges.) The company's stock profile continued heading south for the third day in a row today. I used to be a big player in the stock market, but all my investments have headed south lately. The value of your new car heads south as soon as you drive it off the lot.
3. To cease working or functioning; to quit, fail, or fall apart. Talks between the labor union and the construction firm headed south yesterday, so it looks like workers will be on strike again soon. My computer is only a month old, and it's already heading south. OK, but they're in business together. What will happen to that if their marriage heads south?
head the bill
To be the featured person in an event. Two professors from New York University are heading the bill at the conference on climate change this weekend. Up until now he's only been a supporting act, but he's going to head the bill for the first time next Saturday. Come on, we have to go—I love the comedian who's heading the bill!
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!
turtle head
1. To pop one's head up behind or out from within something, in a manner resembling a turtle's head emerging from its shell. Everyone started turtle heading in their cubicles to see where the music was coming from. People around the campsite began to turtle head from their tents to see what was happening.
2. vulgar slang To need to defecate so badly that one's feces begin to come out through the anus involuntarily. I need to find a bathroom now—I'm starting to turtle head! I was turtle heading by the time we finally got to a rest stop.
where the puck is heading
The direction of a particular trend or predicted outcome. Derived from a quote attributed to Wayne Gretzky: "I skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been." Outside of hockey, the phrase is most commonly used in business and finance. When you're setting up a new business, try to use customers' spending habits as a means of anticipating future trends. Capitalize on where the puck is heading, not where it was last year.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.