heads up

¹

interjection

1. (used to call attention to an impending danger or the need for immediate alertness.)

heads-up

²

[hedz-uhp]

adjective

1. quick to grasp a situation and take advantage of opportunities; alert; resourceful.

noun

1. a warning in advance.

   sending a heads-up to the Pentagon about possible attacks.

heads up

noun

1. a tip-off or small amount of information given in advance

Word History and Origins

Origin of heads up¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Origin of heads up²

First recorded in 1945–50

Idioms and Phrases

A warning to watch out for potential danger, as in Heads up, that tree is coming down now! The expression is generally in the form of an interjection. [c. 1940]

Related Words

• admonition 
• advice 
• alarm 
• alert 
• caution 
• example 
• guidance 
• hint 
• indication 
• information 
• lesson 
• notification 
• prediction 
• recommendation 
• sign 
• signal 
• suggestion 
• threat 
• word 

When To Use

What does heads-up mean?

As an exclamation, Heads up! is used to call attention to danger or another important matter.As a basic noun, a heads-up is an advance notice or warning.