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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

keep one's head on a swivel en · VERB

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, intransitive, qualifier:(with "for")) To be on the alert, to be watchful.
    • Head on a swivel, opposition like a block away 2021, Polo G, “Black Hearted”, in Hall of Fame:
    • "Reentering is about keeping your head on a swivel. Ya gotta keep your head on a swivel, I'm telling ya, because you don't know what's coming, where it's coming from." 2017, Keesha Middlemass, “Unwelcome Homecoming”, in Convicted and Condemned: The Politics and Policies of Prisoner Reentry, page 65:
    • You all kept your head on a swivel and that's what you gotta do when you find yourself in a vicious cock fight. 2004, Will Ferrell, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, spoken by Rob Burgundy (Will Ferrell), Apatow Productions; distributed by DreamWorks Pictures:
    • Near-synonyms: keep an eye out, keep one's eyes open

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
keeping one's head on a swivel Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
kept one's head on a swivel Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
kept one's head on a swivel Tense=Past lexicographic
keeps one's head on a swivel Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Relateds

hypervigilant · hypervigilance

Synonyms

keep an eye out · keep one's eyes open

Translations (1)

sv vara på sin vakt (to be watchful)