use one's head en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To think carefully, especially as an alternative to being guided by one's emotions.
Bound by that commitment, he used his head, channeling his rage into a determination to bring the killers to justice.
2007 January 23, Chris Thornton, “A Belfast Father's Vindication”, in Time:When a girl falls in love, after first using her head to find a suitable mate to fall in love with, it is such a wonderful feeling.
1957 March 13, Joyce Jackson, “Guide to Dating”, in Toledo Blade, page 35:He never—so they agreed—uses his head. He never—I think I have their phrase correct—stops to think.
1918, Stephen Leacock, “Back from the Land”, in Frenzied Fiction:
- (humorous) To headbutt.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| using one's head | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| used one's head | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| used one's head | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| uses one's head | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Synonyms
use one's coconut · use one's noggin
Translations (4)
pl ruszać głową (to think carefully) · pl ruszyć głową (to think carefully) · eu garuna izan (to think carefully) · es tener cerebro (to think carefully)