heading

be heading for a fall

To be likely to suffer negative consequences in the near future, typically due to one's poor decisions or foolish behavior. With the way he keeps skipping school, he is definitely heading for a fall. Oh, Jennifer is heading for a fall—you can't start rumors about half the school without repercussions.
See also: fall, heading

deadhead

1. verb To drive a vehicle that is empty of freight or passengers. Can you deadhead this truck back to its point of origin?
2. noun One who is regarded as dumb, dull, or stupid. Did you see the guy who's wearing two different shoes? What a deadhead.
3. noun A fan of the rock band the Grateful Dead. I used to be a deadhead when I was younger, but I've lost interest in the Grateful Dead over the years.

head away from (someone or something)

To move away from someone or something. We're heading away from the entrance—can you see us yet? We headed away from the strange man on the corner who was yelling expletives at passersby. You better head away from there, it's not safe!
See also: away, head

head back

To begin the act of returning to some place or thing. Oh wow, it's already time for us to head back? We better head back to school before anyone realizes we cut study hall.
See also: back, head

head for (the) tall timber

To flee and hide, particularly in the bushes or trees. Sonny, the cops will find us if we don't head for the tall timber right now!
See also: head, tall, timber

head for a fall

To take actions that will likely result in a problem or conflict, typically due to one's past behavior. With the way he keeps skipping school, he is definitely headed for a fall. Oh, Jennifer is heading for a fall—you can't start rumors about half the school without repercussions.
See also: fall, head

head for the hills

1. To move to higher ground, as in preparation for or response to a natural disaster. There are bound to be tsunamis after an earthquake like that. We'd better head for the hills!
2. To flee hastily; to clear out or depart quickly. You better head for the hills before mom comes home and sees what you did to her car. The bandits all headed for the hills when they heard the marshal was riding into town.
See also: head, hill

head for the last roundup

old-fashioned To die. Primarily heard in US. When my grandmother was in her '80s, she always joked about heading to the last roundup. I think in some ways the fact that she treated it so light-heartedly made it easier to bear when she did finally pass away.
See also: head, last, roundup

head for the setting sun

To travel west, in an attempt to elude law enforcement. (The sun sets to the west.) The cops are closing in on you—your best bet is to head for the setting sun.
See also: head, setting, sun

head in

1. To prepare to enter some place or thing. I'm going to head in now—it's gotten quite chilly out here. Lunch is almost over, so why don't we head in?
2. To start moving the front end or part of something into some thing or place. If you head in carefully, I don't think you'll hit the cars on either side of the parking space.
See also: head

head into (something)

1. To move or guide someone or something into some place or thing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "head" and "into." If you head the car into that space carefully, I don't think you'll hit the cars parked on either side. Head the kids into the classroom and get them set up for naptime.
2. To start moving the front end or part of something into some thing or place. If you head into that space carefully, I don't think you'll hit the cars on either side of you.
See also: head

head off

1. To try to stop something from happening. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "head" and "off." I'm calling the editor now to head off this story before they print it.
2. To intercept or seize someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "head" and "off." Can you head Mom off before she comes home and catches us having a party here?
3. To leave for a particular place. Louise just headed off to the store, but you can probably still catch her, if you leave now.
See also: head, off

head off to (some place)

To leave for a particular place. Louise just headed off to the store, but you can probably still catch her, if you leave now.
See also: head, off

head out

1. To leave some place; to depart. Attention, everyone: we're heading out at 10 AM. Mom is headed out for Sacramento tomorrow afternoon.
2. To move something away from something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "head" and "out." If everyone is buckled in, I'll head the car out.
See also: head, out

head south

1. To escape; to vanish or disappear. (Not necessarily in a southerly direction.) Everyone in the gang headed south when they learned that the police had discovered their hideout.
2. To fall or drop; to depreciate; to lose quality or value. (Especially related to finances or stock exchanges.) The company's stock profile continued heading south for the third day in a row today. I used to be a big player in the stock market, but all my investments have headed south lately.
3. To cease working or functioning; to quit, fail, or fall apart. Talks between the labor union and the construction firm headed south yesterday, so it looks like workers will be on strike again soon. My computer is only a month old, and it's already heading south.
See also: head, south

head the bill

To be the featured person in an event. Two professors from New York University are heading the bill at the conference on climate change this weekend. Up until now he's only been a supporting act, but he's going to head the bill for the first time next Saturday.
See also: bill, head

head up

1. Literally, to orient someone or something in the proper direction. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "head" and "up." Head up the animals, will you? We need to get them back into the barn.
2. To lead some group or delegation. Who will head up the committee for this initiative?
See also: head, up

turtle head

1. To pop one's head up behind or out from within something, in a manner resembling a turtle's head emerging from its shell. Everyone started turtle heading in their cubicles to see where the music was coming from. People around the campsite began to turtle head from their tents to see what was happening.
2. vulgar slang To need to defecate so badly that one's feces begin to come out through the anus involuntarily. I need to find a bathroom now—I'm starting to turtle head! I was turtle heading by the time we finally got to a rest stop.
See also: head, turtle

where the puck is heading

The direction of a particular trend or predicted outcome. Derived from a quote attributed to Wayne Gretzky: "I skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been." Outside of hockey, the phrase is most commonly used in business and finance. When you're setting up a new business, try to use customers' spending habits as a means of anticipating future trends. Capitalize on where the puck is heading, not where it was last year.
See also: heading, puck
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

head back (some place)

to start moving back to some place. I walked to the end of the street and then headed back home. This is far enough. Let's head back.
See also: back, head

head for the hills

 and take to the hills; run for the hills 
1. Lit. to flee to higher ground. The river's rising. Head for the hills! Head for the hills! Here comes the flood!
2. Fig. to depart quickly. Here comes crazy Joe. Run for the hills. Everyone is heading for the hills because that boring Mr. Simpson is coming here again.
See also: head, hill

head for the last roundup

Euph. to reach the end of usefulness or of life. (Originally said of a dying cowboy.) This ballpoint pen is headed for the last roundup. I have to get another one. I am so weak. I think I'm headed for the last roundup.
See also: head, last, roundup

head in (to something)

to move into something head or front end first. Head into that parking space slowly. It is quite narrow. I turned the boat toward shore and headed in.
See also: head

head out (for something)

to set out for something or some place; to begin a journey to something or some place. We headed out for Denver very early in the morning. What time do we head out tomorrow morning?
See also: head, out

head someone or something off

Fig. to intercept and divert someone or something. I think I can head her off before she reaches the police station. I hope we can head off trouble. We can head it off. Have no fear.
See also: head, off

head something out

to aim something outward; to move something on its way, head or front first. Head the boat out and pull out the throttle. I headed out the car and we were on our way.
See also: head, out

head something up

 
1. Lit. to get something pointed in the right direction. (Especially a herd of cattle or a group of covered wagons.) Head those wagons up—we're moving out. Head up the wagons!
2. Fig. to be in charge of something; to be the head of some organization. I was asked to head the new committee up for the first year. Will you head up the committee for me?
See also: head, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

head off

Block the progress or completion of; also, intercept. For example, They worked round the clock to head off the flu epidemic, or Try to head him off before he gets home. [First half of 1800s] This expression gave rise to head someone off at the pass, which in Western films meant "to block someone at a mountain pass." It then became a general colloquialism for intercepting someone, as in Jim is going to the boss's office-let's head him off at the pass.
See also: head, off

head out

1. Depart, begin a journey, as in The ship was heading out to sea, or When do you head out again?
2. head out after. Follow or pursue, as in Since they knew the way, we headed out after them, or A police car headed out after the car thieves.
See also: head, out

head up

Be in charge of, lead, as in She headed up the commission on conservation. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
See also: head, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

be heading for a fall

or

be riding for a fall

If a person or an organization is heading for a fall or is riding for a fall, they are doing things that make them likely to have problems or to fail soon. The Tory Party is heading for a great fall. Here was a company that seemed to be riding for a fall. Now, it has become the sixth-biggest firm in the market. Note: You can also say that a person or organization is headed for a fall. There were some who wondered whether Black's vanity indicated that he was headed for a fall. Note: This expression was probably first used in fox-hunting to refer to someone who was riding dangerously.
See also: fall, heading

head south

or

go south

INFORMAL
If something heads south or goes south, it becomes less successful or falls to a lower level. At that point, the stock market headed south. Managers were selling shares in the certain knowledge that the company was going south.
See also: head, south
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

head for (or take to) the hills

run away; decamp.
2003 The Press (York) Marisa fears Marshall will head for the hills as soon as he discovers this elegant young woman's true identity.
See also: head, hill

head south

deteriorate.
2008 Newsweek Many months ago, McCain remarked, honestly, that he didn't know much about economics. As the economy heads south, he is routinely reminded of his candor.
See also: head, south
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

head off

v.
1. To depart for some destination: She's heading off to New York City next week. He headed off for the mountains for his annual vacation.
2. To intercept or divert someone or something: Try to head them off before they get home. The sheriff headed off the gangsters at the pass.
3. To block the progress or completion of something: The town headed off the attempt to build another mall. The city council wanted to pass a restrictive zoning ordinance, but the mayor headed them off.
See also: head, off

head out

v.
1. To depart for some destination: I'm heading out to the store, do you want anything?
2. To aim or point something outward: The teenager headed the car out of the driveway and sped off.
See also: head, out
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

deadhead

1. n. a stupid person. Wow, are you a deadhead!
2. tv. & in. [for someone] to return an empty truck, train, airplane, etc., to where it came from. I deadheaded back to Los Angeles.
3. n. a follower of the rock group the Grateful Dead. My son is a deadhead and travels all over listening to these guys.

head South

verb
See go South
See also: head, south

turtle heading

n. popping up and down in an office cubicle, looking at what’s going on in the rest of the office. (see also prairie dog.) Everybody was turtle heading, trying to see what was happening in Willy’s cubicle.
See also: heading, turtle
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • be heading for a fall
  • head for a fall
  • be riding for a fall
  • doofus
  • be headed for (something)
  • fool and his money are soon parted
  • fool and his money are soon parted, a
  • parted
  • a fool and his money are soon parted
  • (there's) no fool like an old fool
References in periodicals archive
He is not yet convinced that heading should be banned from even youth soccer.
Whether or not researchers think there's good evidence that heading causes mental impairment, they all agree that the issue needs to be resolved quickly because of the game's popularity.
One specific question is, How does heading affect players who have recently suffered a concussion?
Yet such guidelines on concussions may be more important in soccer than in football because of heading, Green says.
Teaching proper heading technique may be an important way of reducing injuries, Green says.
"When you are lightheaded or dizzy or get a headache after heading a ball, then you have a grade I concussion, and this is happening more often than we think," he says.
Heading for Injury?
To everyone who believes that heading a soccer ball is too dangerous, we point to the great professional defenders who headed tens of thousands of balls with no ill effect.
Coaches should make certain to train their players in how to jump, as game situations often dictate a heading action off a jump.
"Heading" - where is it heading?