Definitions
Wiktionary
- adv. Tumbling upside down.
- adv. At top speed; frantically.
- adv. Hopelessly smitten.
GNU Webster's 1913
- prep. [Colloq.] precipitously and without forethought; impulsively.
WordNet 3.0
- adv. in disorderly haste
Etymologies
- Emerged in the 14th century as "heels over head", which is more literally accurate, as "head over heels" is the more standard state of being. "Heels over head" evolved into "head over heels" in common use departing its literal meaning, probably for reasons of phrasal elegance. (Wiktionary)
Examples
“What about how Jamal got a girlfriend, fell head over heels in love, and completely changed the course of his life this past summer, while I just smoked and grieved and watched it happen from a pharmed-out distance.”
“As the dying man came closer he pushed him, the jack's muscles sending his victim reeling head over heels backward.”
“The dwarf gave a hideous yell of disappointment, and at this instant the stock came tumbling head over heels into the midst, crying – "Oh! the pills, the powders, and the draughts! oh, the lotions and embrocations! oh, the blisters, the poultices, and the plasters! men may well be so short-lived!”
“Because right after their season of Daredevils wrapped, Vic met Syd and fell head over heels in love with her!”
Simon & Schuster: Nancy Drew: Girl Detective Model Menace #37
“I arrived quite safe, and the dreaded moment of reentering a house, which I had left in a sort of a hearse, with a firm conviction of returning no more, was tumbled head over heels by Mr.C. rushing out into the street to meet me, in his dressinggown, and in violent agitation, - John had given him reason to expect us an hour and half earlier.”
“Angie glided to the ground and Bennu tumbled head over heels onto the blanket of oxalis that covered the forest floor.”
“Whether it was by my scratching and scraping against the soil or by my weight pressing down on a particularly unstable spot, the earth abruptly gave way beneath me, and I tumbled down in a torrent of soil and stone, losing the lamp in my helpless fall, rolling head over heels before coming to a jaw-jarring stop upon my bottom.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘head over heels’.
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Public List: Body Metaphors
Phrases that use body parts metaphorically.
neck of the woods, bone of contention, mouth of a river, teeth of the storm, heart of the matter, foot of the bed, eye of the storm, dogleg hole, finger lakes, headwaters, foothills, knik arm and 212 more...
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What Keeps Your Ears Apart?
A sort of stuffie of words/phrases that include "head"
head of cattle, out of one's head, head of the stairs, come to a head, head of steam, head of the page, win by a head, head taller, headway, fountainhead, heads or tails, hit the nail on t... and 143 more...
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Stuffie: They Call Him Flipper
Stuffie #10. Stuff you flip.
coin, card, real estate, flop, over, wilson, flap, lid, burger, pancake, car, channels and 17 more...
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Red Pyramid
amulet, relic, hieroglyphics, decipher, ominous, curator, boomerang, vague, agitated, obelisk, linger, hereditary and 48 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for head over heels.
oroboros Ass over teakettle! Sep 23, 2007