head over heels

Idioms  

1. Completely, thoroughly, as in They fell head over heels in love. This expression originated in the 1300s as heels over head and meant literally being upside down. It took its present form in the 1700s and its present meaning in the 1800s.

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Example Sentences

“They literally fell head over heels flat into an ongoing operation that we had,” said Robert Zachariasiewicz, the supervising DEA agent who is now at corporate intelligence firm Elicius.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

It appears that LaNasa and Show fell head over heels for the home—paying more than $100,000 over the original asking price of $1.99 million to secure the property.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 10, 2026

It’s where I nailed a pivotal job interview, one that somehow ended with me falling head over heels into a condo’s indoor swimming pool while wearing my winter coat.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2026

How could audiences not fall head over heels, or imagine themselves in his boots, when he’s the beguiling picture of real-life attainability?

From Salon • Jul. 10, 2025

With a thrust of Ayanna’s stick, the raft jerked forward and I toppled head over heels, landing in a pile of cloth.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia