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Glite Dictionary
good head on one's shoulders

good head on one's shoulders

5 5.9
A person who thinks carefully and makes sensible choices
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : tener buen juicio
  • He's very bright, and has a very good head on his shoulders.
  • got a good head on one's shoulders

Examples

Synonyms

to have one's head screwed on
vsgood head on one's shoulders
  • UK
1 7.4

Able to think and act in a sensible, practical way

is a general personal trait of sound judgment and common sense
to use one's head
vsgood head on one's shoulders
  • Informal
3.7

To think carefully and act sensibly

is stable everyday practical judgment rather than a single thinking act

Antonyms

foolishness
61 2.7

A lack of good sense or careful thought that causes bad choices

How Sensible

wise
758 2.1
good head on one's shoulders
  • Informal
5 5.9
sensible
201 2.7
naive
312 4.1
foolish
505 1.3

Surface Forms

good head on one's shoulders main

Morphology

good + head + on + one's + shoulders

The sense 'sound judgment/common sense' is related to the literal parts because 'head' maps to mind and 'on one's shoulders' evokes a firmly placed, stable head, so a learner can partially infer a mental/attitudinal meaning. However the specific evaluative idiom is metaphorical and conventionalized—learners may guess the general idea but not the full idiomatic nuance without prior exposure.

Etymology

The phrase good head on one's shoulders comes from the simple image of a head sitting firmly on a person's shoulders, able to guide and steady the body. So, calling someone a good head on their shoulders means they think clearly and make sensible choices, that is, 'to have sound judgment or practical common sense'.