1888. Cincinnati Enquirer. Anna Kelly … is missing from her home in Newport. Somebody has been swelling her head.
1890. Star, 27 Jan. Although he received but £100 for his share, he got the big head, went to pieces, and is now on the retired list.
To hit the right nail on the head, verb. phr. (common). To speak or act with precision and directness; to do the right thing. [The colloquialism is common to most languages. The French say, Vous avez frappé au but (= You have hit the mark). The Italians, Havete dato in brocca (= You have hit the pitcher: alluding to a game where a pitcher stood in the place of Aunt Sally (q.v.)). The Latins, Rem acu tetigisti (= You have touched the thing with a needle: referring to the custom of probing sores.)]
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., iii., 21. The common Proverb as it is read, That a Man must hit the nail on the head.
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, p. 43. That’s what I meant when I said that that josser, whose name I’ve forgotten ’ad ’it the right nail on the ’ead.
To argue (or talk) one’s head off, verb. phr. (common).—To be extremely disputative or loquacious; to be all jaw (q.v.).
1892. Milliken, ’Arry Ballads, p. 22. Argue your ’ead off like.
To bundle out head (or neck) and heels, verb. phr. (common).—To eject with violence.
To have no head, verb. phr. (common).—1. (of persons). To lack ballast; to be crack-brained. See Apartments to Let. Hence, to have a head on = to be cute, alert; to have sand (q.v.). [[287]]
1888. Lynch, Mountain Mystery, ch. 2. Caledonia was declared to possess a Coroner with a head, and a very good one on him, and a messenger was sent to rouse him.