What does the phrase ‘Head over Heels‘ mean? Learn the meaning of the expression “head over heels,” its origin, get example sentences and synonyms for this idiom with ESL printable pictures.
Head Over Heels | Meaning
What Does “Head Over Heels” Mean?
- Head over heels is an interesting idiom which describes romantic love between two people.
- To be “head over heels” means to be so excited or totally in love with someone or something. In other sense, this phrase also refers to turn cartwheels, or turn upside down to illustrate one’s excitement.
- This love idiom is used as part of the longer phrase “head over heels in love”.
Origin of Head Over Heels
- This idiom started being used as a synonym for being in lovearound the year 1830 in the United States.
- Originally, it was “heels over head”, and simply meant to tumble or be temporarily upside-down. That makes some sort of sense. Our heels are normally below our head, so inverting them describes being upside-down quite succinctly.
Example Sentences
- I fell head over heels for him.
- She’s head over heels in love.
- He’s fallen head over heels in love with his boss.
- He is head over heels in debt.
- Sam was head over heels in love with his new bride.
- Sam was obviously head over heels in love with is new bride, and Martha was clearly content.
- I gripped the banister and swung myself head over heels, then came out on the roof of a tower.
- They went into a spin, wheeling head over heels about their warm, wet mutual centre.
- I was very attracted to men and fell head over heels many times.
- Tumbling head over heels in the asphodel meadows like brown paper parcels pitched down a shoot in the post office!
- The newly-weds are head over heels in love.
- They are falling head over heels to propose new solutions.
- Mary is head over heels in love with John.
- She is head over heels in love.
- I guessed you’d fall head over heels for him.
- Yeah, she’s head over heels about this guy because he’s a big spender.
- They are head over heels in love.
- Mr. Smith head over heels in love with his former high school sweetheart.
Head Over Heels | Synonyms
Head Over Heels Synonyms List
Here is the common synonyms list for the phrase “head over heels” with examples:
- Affection
- Adoring
- Puppy love
- Fondly
- Dear
- Smitten
- Shine
- Romantic
- Madly in love
- Devoted
- Infatuated
- Enamored
- Lovesick
- Crazy about someone
- In the throes of something
- Doting
- Besotted
- Lovey-dovey
- Keen on someone
Synonyms for Head Over Heels with Examples
Affection
- The handsome young man excited affection in a girl.
Adoring
- She was always made much of by her adoring friends.
Puppy love
- Look at them together. It may be puppy love, but it looks wonderful.
Fondly
- She is looking fondly at the plants he had nurtured.
Dear
- My daughter is very dear to me.
Smitten
- She was suddenly smitten with remorse.
Shine
- She really takes a shine to you.
Romantic
- After dinner, they took a romantic stroll by the sea.
Madly in love
- I was madly in love with her.
Devoted
- Lucy is absolutely devoted to her cats.
Infatuated
- I think he is infatuated with you.
Besotted
- He is besotted with a girl.
Enamored
- Her beauty enamored the prince.
Lovesick
- You’re acting like a lovesick teenager!
Crazy about someone
- He is crazy about that girl.
In the throes of something
- We’re in the throes of moving to a new office, so the place is in chaos at the moment.
Doting
- The doting husband catered to his wife’s every wish.
Lovey-dovey
- The newlyweds were acting all lovey-dovey.
Keen on someone
- John’s always been keen on music.
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