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]

Example Sentences

Cinema Services gave him the heads-up that Sony was going forward with the December 25 release.

From The Daily Beast

Lehmberg also heads up the Public Integrity Unit that investigates government corruption.

From The Daily Beast

My soldiers held their heads up high and handed the city over to the next unit.

From The Daily Beast

Many have visible injuries or are so sick with flu they cannot hold their heads up.

From The Daily Beast

The writer, Phil Bronstein, who heads up the Center for Investigative Reporting, stands by the story.

From The Daily Beast

Theyll hang our heads up, and theyll burn the Silver Fleece and bootcher all hands, drifted in the far, slow cry of Mr. Scurlock.

From Project Gutenberg

For I'm werry highly connected, as a gent, sir, can understand; And my family hold their heads up with the very furst in the land.

From Project Gutenberg

If these people around here could get their heads up long enough from grubbing in the muck they wouldn't stay here over night.

From Project Gutenberg

The shipping clerk, as he heads up his barrels and boxes, can be sending out and up his current of prayer.

From Project Gutenberg

A few of the flock watched him, but most of them stood with their heads up the slope facing the wildly bounding stones.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Heads Up

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.

Where does heads-up come from?

In late 18th-century militaries, Heads up! encouraged soldiers to keep their heads held high in tough times—chin up guys.

Since then, heads up has taken on a number of meanings, all based on the idea that one is paying attention when their head is … up.

In the 1910s, heads-up described someone as alert or skillful (e.g., a heads-up police officer). Also around this time Heads up! became an exclamation to warn someone of danger ahead or overhead.

In the 1930s, the phrase heads up also signaled a frank statement, a kind of tbh of its day: I don’t like chopped liver, heads up.

Then, we get to the 1970s, and heads-up came into use in its most common and familiar contemporary meaning: an “advance warning,” “notice,” or “reminder.” For instance, Give me a heads-up when you’re off the plane or Heads up: This will be on the exam. By the 2000s, this sense extended to “facts” or “information” in general: What’s the heads-up on the new project?

As a nod of the head can be used to acknowledge someone you’re walking by, a heads-up occasionally took on the sense of a “greeting” in the 1990s.

Heads up also is the name of two popular games. Since the 1950s, apparently, schoolchildren have been playing Heads Up Seven Up. In the game, kids put their heads down on their desk as seven chosen classmates walk around the room tapping as many students. When done, the moderator shouts Heads up! and the tapped have to guess their tappers.

Based on a game she played on her talk show, Ellen Degeneres developed an app-based game called Heads Up! Here, players select a trivia category (animals, Disney movies, etc.) and divide into teams. One team player places a smartphone or tablet on their head displaying a term they have to guess based on clues their teammates give. The aim is to guess as many you can within a given time limit.

How is heads-up used in real life?

In everyday speech and writing, people may issue a heads up as a warning: Heads up, you’re about to bump into that pole. It’s common to say heads up before tossing something (keys, an apple) so you have the person’s attention.

Heads up!! Heavy rains expected beginning tonight. 2-5" likely over next 5 days & up to 8" along some areas in NC mtns. Flash flooding possible. Stay tuned to #ncwx. Stay away from flooded roads. pic.twitter.com/PHAfo65B0t

— NC Emergency Managem (@NCEmergency) May 27, 2018

Heads up very widely gets used in speech and writing for any bit of clickbait “news” or as a friendly “notice.”

Heads up #Lost and #Taken fans, @MaggieGrace has signed on as a series regular for #FearTWD Season 4: https://t.co/kpG4S5AKtg pic.twitter.com/jF89LxzjgA

— The Walking Dead (@TheWalkingDead) November 29, 2017

Heads up! still sees use in its early “hold your head high and proud” sense too.

https://twitter.com/sohsraiders/status/1001626941823172608

More examples of heads-up:

“In case you don’t already have an alert on your calendar, heads up: Father’s Day 2018 is quickly approaching. This year, it will fall on Sunday, Jun. 17. So don’t worry, you have plenty of time to put a little thought into dad’s present.”
—Brittany Bennett, Bustle, May, 2018

Note

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.