use one's head
Appearance
English
[edit]Pronunciation
[edit]Audio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
[edit]use one's head (third-person singular simple present uses one's head, present participle using one's head, simple past and past participle used one's head)
- (idiomatic) To think carefully, especially as an alternative to being guided by one's emotions.
- 1918, Stephen Leacock, “Back from the Land”, in Frenzied Fiction:
- He never—so they agreed—uses his head. He never—I think I have their phrase correct—stops to think.
- 1957 March 13, Joyce Jackson, “Guide to Dating”, in Toledo Blade, page 35:
- 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.
- 2007 January 23, Chris Thornton, “A Belfast Father's Vindication”, in Time:
- Bound by that commitment, he used his head, channeling his rage into a determination to bring the killers to justice.
- (humorous) To headbutt.
Synonyms
[edit]Translations
[edit]to think carefully
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