2. (of malt liquors).—To be flat. See Cauliflower.
To have a head, verb. phr. (common).—To experience the after-effects of heavy drinking (cf., Mouth); also to have a head-ache. For synonyms, see Screwed.
To give one his head, verb. phr. (common).—To give one full and free play; to let go.
To have maggots in the head, verb. phr. (common).—To be crotchetty, whimsical, freakish; to have a bee in one’s bonnet. For synonyms, see Apartments.
To hurt in the head, verb. phr. (old).—To cuckold; to cornute.
To lie heads and tails, verb. phr. (common).—To sleep packed sardine fashion, i.e., heads to head-rail and foot-rail alternately.
Over head and ears (in work, love, debt, etc.), phr. (common).—Completely engrossed in; infatuated with; to the fullest extent.
1589. Nashe, Pasqvill of England (Grosart), i., 114. Presently he fetcheth his seas himselfe, and leaps very boldly ouer heade and eares.
1735. Granville (quoted in Johnson’s Dict., s.v. Head). In jingling rimes well fortified and strong, He fights intrenched o’er head and ears in song.
Without head or tail, adv. phr. (common).—Incoherent; neither one thing nor the other. E.g., I can’t make head or tail of it = I cannot make it out.