head over heels

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

"She was like a farm girl, and he fell head over heels in love with her," said one source.

From The Daily Beast

“You were head over heels,” Byron says of Ames and his wife.

From The Daily Beast

The ring having become unriveted, the shell did not spin, and simply turned head over heels.

From Project Gutenberg

Head over heels he went as the pistol exploded for the second time.

From Project Gutenberg

Bobby scrambled higher, tumbled back more recklessly and fell, head over heels and upside down, on the daisied turf.

From Project Gutenberg

"I have fallen head over heels in love with the young lady," he confessed.

From Project Gutenberg

We walk, slide, and scramble down steep slopes where it would be easy to tumble down head over heels.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Head Over Heels

What does head over heels mean?

Head over heels is a figurative phrase that means totally or completely.

Head over heels is almost always used to refer to feelings of passionate love, as in Romeo was head over heels in love with Juliet. The phrase is commonly used in the forms like “to be head over heels in love with” and “to fall head over heels for.”

Head over heels is also used to mean somebody really likes or is obsessed with something or someone, as in The team owner fell head over heels for the promising young athlete and demanded the team draft them. 

Example: Jack fell head over heels in love with Rose and wanted to spend every minute of the day with her. 

Where does head over heels come from?

The first records of head over heels come from around 1710. The expression comes from the earlier heels over head, which was used to refer to someone being literally upside down. Head over heels gained its figurative meaning in the 1800s.

Head over heels is used to refer to someone who is completely enamored with another person. If you are head over heels in love with someone, you can’t get the other person out of your mind. You are completely focused on them. The phrase is often used in music, art, Valentine’s Day cards, and other creative works about love.

Head over heels is also commonly used in metaphors or wordplay that is describing someone as being captivated by or fixated on something or someone.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for head over heels?

• completely
• deeply
• intensely 

What are some words that share a root or word element with head over heels? 

• head
• over
• heel

What are some words that often get used in discussing head over heels?

• love
• romance
• infatuation
• devotion
• fall

How is head over heels used in real life?

Head over heels is used to refer to people who are literally or figurative in love with someone or something.

Seeing people head over heels in love honestly makes me so happy to see☺️

— Kelsey (@thekelseyowens) February 6, 2018

I have fallen head over heels in love with Lena Headey … Everything about her! #womancrush

— Kaya Scodelario (@kScodders) August 9, 2013

Walking today, I came upon a street I didn't know and fell head over heels in love with it. A magical experience that every urbanist knows.

— Autumn Florek (@PlanningAutumn) November 14, 2020

Try using head over heels!

Which of the following words is a synonym for head over heels?

A. somewhat
B. completely
C. almost
D. mostly