heads-up

¹ American  

[hedz-uhp] / ˈhɛdzˌʌp /

adjective

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

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noun

1. a warning in advance.

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

heads up ² American  

interjection

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

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heads up British  

noun

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

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heads up Idioms  

1. 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]

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Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of heads-up¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Origin of heads up¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

"They are a bit heads down but we have to be heads up because in three days we have a difficult game against Chelsea."

From Barron's

Instead, most of them simply bob their heads up and down in unified appreciation of the music.

From BBC

"We were so shocked. And then we were told later, it had to be that way, and they couldn't really give anyone a heads up."

From BBC

Cossington heads up the operation as chief executive officer, and recruited Van Ginhoven in October as director of global women's football operations.

From BBC

"We want to host the Fifa World Cup, but we want to do that with our heads up high, not while hiding behind a façade."

From BBC

Related Words

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