Head over heels

Meaning

The idiom "head over heels" is an English expression that means to be completely enamored or infatuated with someone or something. It can also mean being extremely emotional, passionate, or overwhelmed by a situation or task. The phrase suggests that the person's emotions are so strong that they have lost control of themselves and are experiencing a loss of balance and equilibrium.

Usage

• As soon as I saw her face, I felt head over heels in love with her.
• He was head over heels when he won the lottery and bought his dream house.
• She became so emotional after losing her job that she had to leave the meeting early.
• The project was so complex that even the team leader found himself head over heels trying to keep up.
• The city experienced heavy rainfall, causing some streets to flood and people to be head over heels in water.

Roots and History

The idiom "head over heels" has been used in English since at least the 14th century. It comes from Middle English "hæafod over hæfod," which means falling backwards, as if one's head is overturned by a strong force or emotion. The phrase became more commonly used to describe romantic infatuation or other intense emotions in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Synonyms in English

• Head-over-heels in love
• Over the moon in love
• Crazy about someone/something
• Fallen for someone/something
• Drooling over someone/something

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "Têtes en l'air" (lit. head in the air)
• Spanish: "Enamorado/a hasta los dientes" (lit. in love until the teeth)
• Italian: "Pazzo/a di amore" (lit. mad with love)
• German: "Nackt vor Gottes Weisheit" (lit. naked before God's wisdom, used to describe being completely overwhelmed by a situation or task)
• Mandarin Chinese: "心爱情疾" (lit. heartbroken)

Similar Idioms

• over the moon

• love is blind

• an item