English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Head in the clouds
Meaning
The idiom "head in the clouds" refers to someone who is lost in thought or daydreaming, or someone who is unaware of their surroundings and not paying attention to what is happening around them. It can also refer to someone who is absent-minded or forgetful.
Usage
- John's head was literally in the clouds as he walked down the street, staring up at the sky without noticing anything else around him.
- During the meeting, Sarah's head was in the clouds and she missed most of what was said.
- I need to focus on my work instead of letting my head be in the clouds and daydreaming all day.
- When he gets lost in a book, Mike's head is literally in the clouds and he forgets everything else around him.
- After years of working in the same job, Mary's head was in the clouds and she was ready for a change.
Roots and History
The idiom "head in the clouds" has been used since at least the early 20th century. The earliest known use of the phrase can be traced back to a collection of stories called "The Little White Bird," which was written by Lewis Carroll and first published in 187- In one of the stories, the bird says to the reader, "His head was in the clouds." The idiom was later popularized in the late 19th century when it appeared in a collection of poems called "A Book of Verses by Various Authors," which was edited by William Makepeace Thackeray. Over time, the meaning and usage of the idiom have evolved slightly. While it still refers to someone who is daydreaming or absent-minded, it has become more commonly used to refer to someone who is disconnected from reality or not paying attention to what is happening around them.
Synonyms in English
- In a daze
- Daydreaming
- Absent-minded
- Distant
- Unfocused
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish - En la nube (literally "in the cloud")
- French - Avec le dos tourné (literally "with the back turned")
- German - Im Kopf stehen (literally "in the head")
- Italian - In cielo (literally "in the sky")
- Chinese - 不知情的 (literally "not knowing anything")