2. (colloquial).—To froth malt liquors. [E.g., ‘Put a head on it, Miss,’ addressed to the barmaid, is a request to work the engine briskly, and make the liquor take on a cauliflower (q.v.)]
Heads I win, tails you lose, phr. (common).—A gage of certainty = In no case can I fail: I hold all the trumps.
1890. Welfare, Mar., p. 8., c. 1. A director holding shares to the extent of £50 will draw a yearly recognition of his patronage to the tune of £100. It is unnecessary to ask whether such a course of speculation follows the principle of tails you lose, heads I win.
To get the head into chancery, verb. phr. (formerly pugilists’: now common).—To get the other fighter’s head under one arm and hold it there; a position of helplessness. See Chancery.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 18. When Georgy, one time, got the head of the Bear into chancery.
2. (colloquial).—Hence to get, or be got, into a posture of absolute helplessness.
To knock on the head, verb. phr. (common).—To kill; to destroy; to put an end to.
1871. Weekly Dispatch, 21 May. ‘Police Report.’ The magistrate (Mr. Newton) refused the application for bail, remarking that the sooner the house was done away with the better, and he would take care that it and all connected with it were knocked on the head.
To get (or put) the head in a bag. See Bag.
To get (or have) a swelling in the (or a big-) head, verb. phr. (common).—To be or become conceited; to put on airs.