How Do You Spell GO HEAD OVER HEELS?

Pronunciation: [ɡˌə͡ʊ hˈɛd ˌə͡ʊvə hˈiːlz] (IPA)

The phrase "go head over heels" means to fall or become very enthusiastic about something. The spelling of this phrase is straightforward - "go" is just spelled as it sounds, and "head" and "heels" are spelled conventionally. The tricky part is the pronunciation, which is transcribed in IPA as /ɡoʊ hɛd ˈoʊvər hiːlz/. This indicates that the "head" and "over" are both stressed, while the "heels" is unstressed and pronounced with a reduced vowel sound.

GO HEAD OVER HEELS Meaning and Definition

  1. "Go head over heels" is an idiomatic expression that describes a sudden or careless movement, usually resulting in a full rotation or turning upside down. This phrase is commonly used to portray someone's loss of balance, their falling or flipping, or even their complete disorientation. The phrase is derived from the physical motion of a somersault or a cartwheel where the head rotates in front of and beyond the heels.

    Beyond its literal definition, "go head over heels" also has a figurative connotation. It is often used metaphorically to describe a sudden change in emotions or a state of extreme excitement and infatuation. In this context, it suggests being overwhelmed or deeply infatuated with someone or something, to the point where one's emotions become disordered, and their perspective is completely overturned.

    This expression can be used in various contexts, such as describing a person's physical accident or a metaphorical state of mind. For instance, one might say, "He stumbled over a rock and went head over heels down the hill" to illustrate a literal physical fall, or "She fell head over heels in love with her new partner" to depict an intense emotional state. Overall, "go head over heels" denotes a rapid and often unexpected change in position, either literally or metaphorically.