Collocations for head - noun
1. part of the body
ADJ.
bare | bald | shaved | blonde, dark, fair, grey, greying | bent, bowed
She sat with bowed head.
She sat with bowed head.
severed
The city gates were adorned with severed heads.
The city gates were adorned with severed heads.
VERB + HEAD
poke, pop, put, stick
He put his head round the door.
He put his head round the door.
bob, cock, crane, incline, jerk, tilt, turn
She jerked her head in the direction of the door.
She jerked her head in the direction of the door.
lift, raise | bend, bow, drop, duck, hang, lower
He hung his head in shame.
He hung his head in shame.
swing, throw back, toss
He threw his head back and laughed out loud.
He threw his head back and laughed out loud.
nod, shake
They nodded their heads in agreement. | She shook her head in disbelief.
They nodded their heads in agreement. | She shook her head in disbelief.
scratch
He scratched his head. ‘I don''t understand, ’ he said. | (figurative) Detectives have been left scratching their heads over the stolen painting''s sudden reappearance.
He scratched his head. ‘I don''t understand, ’ he said. | (figurative) Detectives have been left scratching their heads over the stolen painting''s sudden reappearance.
clutch, hold
He lay writhing on the ground, clutching his head in pain.
He lay writhing on the ground, clutching his head in pain.
bury
She buried her head in the pillow.
She buried her head in the pillow.
shave
HEAD + VERB
ache, throb | bob, jerk, nod, tilt, turn
Her head tilted to one side as she considered the question.
Her head tilted to one side as she considered the question.
droop, drop, hang down, hang low
His head drooped and tears fell into his lap.
His head drooped and tears fell into his lap.
HEAD + NOUN
injury | cold
PREP.
above your ~
The thunder burst with a grand crash above our heads.
The thunder burst with a grand crash above our heads.
over your ~
The soldiers were ordered to fire over the heads of the crowd.
The soldiers were ordered to fire over the heads of the crowd.
PHRASES
from head to foot/toe
We were covered from head to foot in mud.
We were covered from head to foot in mud.
a fine/good, etc. head of hair
(= a lot of hair) a woman with a lovely head of chestnut hair
(= a lot of hair) a woman with a lovely head of chestnut hair
have/hold/put, etc. your head in your hands
He put his head in his hands, exasperated.
He put his head in his hands, exasperated.
head first
He dived head first into the water. | (figurative) She got divorced and rushed head first into another marriage.
He dived head first into the water. | (figurative) She got divorced and rushed head first into another marriage.
a nod of the head
The ambassador dismissed him with a curt nod of the head.
The ambassador dismissed him with a curt nod of the head.
a shake of the head
She declined with a brief shake of the head.
She declined with a brief shake of the head.
2. mind
ADJ.
clear, cool, level
She needed to keep a clear head if she was to remain in control.
She needed to keep a clear head if she was to remain in control.
good
I have a good head for figures.
I have a good head for figures.
VERB + HEAD
use
I wish you''d use your head (= think carefully before doing or saying something).
I wish you''d use your head (= think carefully before doing or saying something).
enter
It never entered my head that he might be lying.
It never entered my head that he might be lying.
get it into
When will you get it into your head (= understand) that I don''t want to discuss this any more! | For some reason she''s got it into her head (= believes) that the others don''t like her.
When will you get it into your head (= understand) that I don''t want to discuss this any more! | For some reason she''s got it into her head (= believes) that the others don''t like her.
put sth into
Who''s been putting such weird ideas into your head?
Who''s been putting such weird ideas into your head?
get sth out of, put sth out of
I can''t get that tune out of my head. | Try to put the exams out of your head for tonight.
I can''t get that tune out of my head. | Try to put the exams out of your head for tonight.
bother
Don''t bother your pretty little head with things like that!
Don''t bother your pretty little head with things like that!
HEAD + VERB
spin
He could feel his head spinning after only one drink.
He could feel his head spinning after only one drink.
PREP.
in your ~
I can''t work it out in my head - I need a calculator.
I can''t work it out in my head - I need a calculator.
inside your ~
It was an accident, said a voice inside his head.
It was an accident, said a voice inside his head.
PHRASES
can''t get your head round sth
(= can''t understand sth) She''s dead. I can''t get my head round it yet.
(= can''t understand sth) She''s dead. I can''t get my head round it yet.
need your head examined
He looked at me as if I needed my head examined (= as if I were crazy).
He looked at me as if I needed my head examined (= as if I were crazy).
3. heads: side of a coin
VERB + HEAD
call
I called heads and it came down tails.
I called heads and it came down tails.
come down/up
PHRASES
heads or tails?
4. of a group/organization/school, etc.
ADJ.
deputy | departmental | nominal, titular
The Queen is titular head of the Church of England.
The Queen is titular head of the Church of England.
crowned
The message was sent to all the crowned heads (= kings and queens) of Europe.
The message was sent to all the crowned heads (= kings and queens) of Europe.
HEAD + NOUN
gardener, teacher, waiter | boy, girl
(= in a school)
(= in a school)
PHRASES
a head of department, the head of the family, a head of government/state
a summit meeting of heads of state
a summit meeting of heads of state
a head of (the) household