1
general::
head off
to start a journey or leave a place
• What time are you heading off?, head sb/sth off
[ M ]
to force someone or something to change direction
• I tried to head the dog off by running towards it., head for sth
to be likely to experience a bad situation soon, because of your own actions or behaviour
• They're heading for disaster if they're not careful.
• The country is heading for recession., head sth off
[ M ]
to prevent a difficult or unpleasant situation from happening
• The company is putting up wages to head off a strike.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
3
general::
noun part of the body ADJ. bare | bald | shaved | blonde, dark, fair, grey, greying | bent, bowed She sat with bowed head. | severed The city gates were adorned with severed heads. VERB + HEAD poke, pop, put, stick He put his head round the door. | bob, cock, crane, incline, jerk, tilt, turn She jerked her head in the direction of the door. | lift, raise | bend, bow, drop, duck, hang, lower He hung his head in shame. | swing, throw back, toss He threw his head back and laughed out loud. | nod, shake They nodded their heads in agreement. She shook her head in disbelief. | scratch He scratched his head. ‘I don't understand, ’ he said. (figurative) Detectives have been left scratching their heads over the stolen painting's sudden reappearance. | clutch, hold He lay writhing on the ground, clutching his head in pain. | bury She buried her head in the pillow. | shave HEAD + VERB ache, throb | bob, jerk, nod, tilt, turn Her head tilted to one side as she considered the question. | droop, drop, hang down, hang low His head drooped and tears fell into his lap. HEAD + NOUN injury | cold PREP. above your ~ The thunder burst with a grand crash above our heads. | over your ~ The soldiers were ordered to fire over the heads of the crowd. PHRASES from head to foot/toe We were covered from head to foot in mud. | a fine/good, etc. head of hair (= a lot of hair) a woman with a lovely head of chestnut hair | have/hold/put, etc. your head in your hands He put his head in his hands, exasperated. | head first He dived head first into the water. (figurative) She got divorced and rushed head first into another marriage. | a nod of the head The ambassador dismissed him with a curt nod of the head. | a shake of the head She declined with a brief shake of the head. mind ADJ. clear, cool, level She needed to keep a clear head if she was to remain in control. | good I have a good head for figures. VERB + HEAD use I wish you'd use your head (= think carefully before doing or saying something). | enter It never entered my head that he might be lying. | get it into When will you get it into your head (= understand) that I don't want to discuss this any more! For some reason she's got it into her head (= believes) that the others don't like her. | put sth into Who's been putting such weird ideas into your head? | get sth out of, put sth out of I can't get that tune out of my head. Try to put the exams out of your head for tonight. | bother Don't bother your pretty little head with things like that! HEAD + VERB spin He could feel his head spinning after only one drink. PREP. in your ~ I can't work it out in my head?I need a calculator. | inside your ~ It was an accident, said a voice inside his head. PHRASES can't get your head round sth (= can't understand sth) She's dead. I can't get my head round it yet. | need your head examined He looked at me as if I needed my head examined (= as if I were crazy). heads: side of a coin VERB + HEAD call I called heads and it came down tails. | come down/up PHRASES heads or tails? of a group/organization/school, etc. ADJ. deputy | departmental | nominal, titular The Queen is titular head of the Church of England. | crowned The message was sent to all the crowned heads (= kings and queens) of Europe. HEAD + NOUN gardener, teacher, waiter | boy, girl (= in a school) PHRASES a head of department, the head of the family, a head of government/state a summit meeting of heads of state | a head of (the) householdJOB, verb go ADV. north, northwards, etc. We headed west for two days. | back Let's head back home. PREP. back to We headed straight back to school. | for He turned and headed for the door. | towards heading towards London be in charge of sth ADV. jointly The committee will be headed jointly by two men. | up VERB + HEAD appoint sb to She has been appointed to head up the research team.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
4
general::
head
verbs
turn your head
• John turned his head to look at the boy.
shake your head
(= move it from side to side, especially to show disagreement )
• ‘It’s too much,’ he said, shaking his head.
nod your head
(= move it up and down, especially to show agreement )
• The audience nodded their heads enthusiastically.
sb’s head hurts/aches/throbs
• Her head was throbbing and she needed to lie down.
raise/lift your head
(= look up )
• Tom raised his head to listen, then went back to his book.
bow/bend/lower your head
(= look down )
• He bowed his head and tried not not to look at her.
hang your head
(= look down, especially because you are ashamed )
• She hung her head, not sure how to reply.
scratch your head
(= especially because you do not understand something )
• He scratched his head and started looking through the drawers again.
cock your head
(= hold your head at an angle )
• The big dog cocked his head to one side and raised his ears.
adjectives
bare
• The sun beat down on her bare head.
bald
• His bald head shone with sweat.
sb’s blonde/dark/grey etc head
(= with blonde etc hair )
• I saw my son’s blond head sticking out from the car window.
head + NOUN
head injury
• Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injuries.
transnet.ir
5
general::
Phrase(s): *a (big) head
a hangover. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) • Oh, man, that booze gave me a big head! • Tom has a head this morning and won’t be coming into work., Phrase(s): a head [and] per head
[for] a person; [for] an individual. • How much do you charge per head for dinner? • It costs four dollars a head.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs