head for

British  

verb

1. to go or cause to go (towards)

2. to be destined for

   to head for trouble

---

head for Idioms  

1. Proceed or go in a certain direction, as in I'm heading for town, or I believe Karen and Jane are heading for a big quarrel. This expression, which uses head in the sense of “advance toward,” is occasionally amplified with a figurative destination, especially in the American West. For example, head for the hills means “to run away to high and safer ground” or “to flee from danger.” It is often used facetiously, as in Here comes that old bore—head for the hills! Head for the setting sun alludes to where a wanted man or outlaw went when a law-enforcement agent was close behind him, that is, farther west, and head for the last roundup means “to die.” [Early 1800s]

---

Example Sentences

If the answer is not a clear yes, then you might want to head for the door.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

Despite this sequel’s thin and rote stretches, it once again closes strong with a few images that will stick in your head for at least a week or two.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Real's first goal was a prime example, City caught with a routine long clearance from keeper Thibaut Courtois that dropped over Nico O'Reilly's head for Valverde to run on to and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

The Charles de Gaulle carrier has been pulled out of a deployment in the North Atlantic to head for the eastern Mediterranean.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

She turned to head for her homeroom, and I thought of something.

From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee

Related Words

• advance
• blow
• carry
• change
• climb
• cross
• drift
• drive
• flow
• fly
• go
• jump
• leave
• migrate
• proceed
• progress
• propel
• push
• relocate
• remove