|
Idiom |
Meaning |
|
Brain
like a sieve |
Someone who has a brain like a sieve
has a very bad memory and
forgets things easily.
"Oh, I forgot
to buy bread - I've got a brain like a sieve these days!" |
|
Have something on the brain |
If you have something on the brain,
you think or talk about it constantly.
"Stop talking about golf. You've got golf on the brain!" |
|
Pick someone's
brains |
If you pick someone's brains, you
ask questions about a particular
subject in order to obtain
advice or information.
"Could we have lunch together? I'd like to pick your brains about
something." |
|
Rack one's brains |
If you rack your brains, you try
very hard to think of something or to
remember something.
"Christmas is always a hassle for me. I have to rack my brains every
year to find ideas for presents." |
| Wrap your brain around something |
If you concentrate on something so as to try to understand it,
you wrap your brain around it.
"I
need a translation of that report urgently, so wrap you brain round it
fast!" |
| Bang
your head against a brick wall |
If you bang your head against a brick wall, you continue vainly to
try and achieve something in spite of several unsuccessful
attempts.
"I've been banging my head against a brick wall trying to explain the
internet to my grandmother." |
|
Be
head and shoulders above |
To say that a person or
thing is head and shoulders above the
others means that they are
much better that the rest of their kind.
"The award-winner was head and shoulders
above the others." |
|
Bite someone's head off |
If you bite someone's head off, you criticize them strongly
(and
perhaps unfairly).
"I worked 10 hours a day all week and my boss bit my head off
for
not doing my share of the work!" |
|
Bury one's head in the sand |
If you bury your head in the sand, you refuse to
face the unpleasant
reality by pretending that it doesn't exist.
"It's no good burying your head in the sand. We've got a problem on
our hands." |
|
Can't make head or
tail of something |
If you can't make head or tail of
something, you can't understand it
at all.
"Julie's message was so confusing, I couldn't make head or tail of
it! " |
| Come
to a head |
If a problem or difficult situation comes to head, it reaches a point
where action has to be taken.
"The problem came to a head yesterday when rioting broke out in
the streets." |
|
In
over your head |
If you are in over your head, you
are involved in something that is
too difficult for you to handle.
"I accepted to organize the festival, but I quickly realized that I was
in
over my head." |
| Have
one's head screwed on |
Someone who has their head
screwed on is a sensible and realistic
person.
"Don't worry about him.. He's adventurous but he's got his head
screwed
on." |
|
Keep your head
above water |
To keep one's head above water
means to try to survive by staying
out of debt, for example a small business. |
|
Off the top of one's head |
To say something off the top of your
head means that you are
giving an immediate reaction, and not a carefully considered opinion,
so it might not be correct. |
| Head
over heels in love |
When a person falls passionately in love with another, they are said
to be head over heels in love.
"Tony's only interest at the moment is Maria. He's head over heels
in
love with her!" |
|
A
swelled/swollen head |
Someone who has a swelled/swollen head has become proud or
conceited, usually because of recent success.
"Larry's promotion has given him a swelled head!" |