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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

wrap one's head around en · VERB

Meanings

  1. (figuratively, informal) To come to a good understanding of.
    • It is sometimes mind-boggling to try and wrap one's head around all the possible information sets which one should try to address. 1978, Science Policy Foundation, Science & Public Policy, volume 5, page 456:
    • “I know how important it is to vote, but I couldn’t wrap my head around the options at that point,” Ms. Dibble said of the 2016 election. 2020 November 1, “Election at Hand, Biden Leads Trump in Four Key States, Poll Shows”, in New York Times:
    • Caine was pretty rough around the edges, though. I wasn't quite on Scratch's level of thinking outside the box, but it was good groundwork for something the rest of the team could wrap their heads around. 2026 March 20, Gooseworx, “hjsakldfhl” (19:55 from the start), in The Amazing Digital Circus, episode 8, spoken by Kinger (Sean Chiplock):
  2. (informal, qualifier:more literally, uncommon) To crash into (something, especially a pole) messily and fatally while travelling in a motor vehicle.
    • “Some crazy young bastard wrapped his head around a pole.” 2011, David Adams Richards, The Coming of Winter, page 14:
  3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see wrap, head, around.
    • The words barely left the lips when there came a loud cry and a trample of hoof beats. It was Kelly, radiant and shining, her mane was whipping with her speed. I cried out to her and the mare came to a stop and wrapped her head around mine. 2005, Charles R. Saint, The A.A.H.:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
wrapping one's head around Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
wrap one's brain around alternative lexicographic
wrapped one's head around Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
wrapped one's head around Tense=Past lexicographic
wraps one's head around Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
wrap one's mind around alternative lexicographic

Synonyms

get one's head around

Translations (7)

pl ogarniać (to come to a good understanding of) · pl ogarnąć (to come to a good understanding of) · pl mieścić się w głowie (to come to a good understanding of) · hu fel foghat (nem) (to come to a good understanding of) · tr basmak (to come to a good understanding of) · hu megpróbál megérteni (to come to a good understanding of) · hu (nem) fér a fejébe (to come to a good understanding of)