Idioms with the word ‘Head’

I believe that one of the ways to help an English learner sound, and hopefully become, more like a native speaker is to learn and use idioms as frequently as possible. Also, the frequency in which you use them will also help you retain them for the future. A few things to remember about idioms is 1) they do not always follow “correct” grammar, 2) you cannot split the phrase up into separate words to try to make sense of them, and 3) some of these idioms have been used for a few centuries. Today I have chosen to present idioms using the word ‘HEAD’.

The first idiom using head will be “Over One’s Head”. This idiom is used when you are saying that something is too difficult for you to understand, or it is beyond your abilities.

Example 1: Several years ago, I started to read Stephen Hawking’s first book. For the first few chapters I was able to keep up, but when he started talking about black holes in chapter four, I knew the rest of the book would be over my head, so I stopped reading it.

Example 2: I love to work on engines, especially car engines, but these new hybrid car engines are over my head.

The second idiom using head will be “Keep Your Head Above Water”. This idiom is used when you can still do something, but you are struggling and might fail at any moment.

Example 1: Hank was good at math; in fact, he was the best in our school. However, when he started his math classes at MIT, he was doing everything that he could to keep his head above water.

Example 2: When you first join a new company or position it is hard to keep your head above water since almost everything is new and the schedule seems too hectic, but soon it all becomes easier as time goes on.

The next idiom using head will be “In Over One’s Head”. This idiom is used in reference to being in a very difficult situation that you cannot succeed in.

Example 1: Mark changed jobs recently. He used to be a drive-through cashier at McDonald’s, but now he is the dairy manager at the local supermarket. I think that he is in over his head since he has no experience being a manager.

Example 2: Janet was embarrassed when she tried to help her high school daughter with her math homework and found that she was in over her head when she did not recognize anything on the page.

The final idiom using head will be “Go Over Someone’s Head”. This idiom is used when you talk to a person who is higher in position or rank than the person you normally deal with.

Example 1: Brad’s direct manager was furious when she learned that Brad had talked directly to the section manager without coming to her first. Brad probably wished that he had not gone over her head.

Example 2: Nick asked his dad if he could stay at a friend’s house over the weekend, but his father said no. Not to be dissuaded, Nick decided to go over his father’s head and ask his mother. She said yes.

These are just a few examples of idioms using ‘head’. Once again, I encourage you to try to use some of these in your lessons or daily English conversations. I would also like to challenge you to find and use others as well.

Kevin