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Glite Dictionary
⚠️ A warning 👀 Alert and ready
heads-up

heads-up

7 5.2
Fully alert and ready to act quickly
  • adjective
  • /ˈhɛdzˌʌp/
  • Informal
translation icon : atento
  • You need to stay heads up during the game to react to the fast plays.

That was that was amazing that he was able to do that and was heads up enough to do that.

Examples

  • It's important to be heads up when driving in bad weather.

  • Please remain heads up so you can catch any details during the presentation.

  • OK, so heads up, we're in a contact sport.

  • Alright, heads up, man, it looks like another one.

    9/11: Minute by Minute (2021)

  • All right, team, heads up.

    Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

  • Heads up, we got company.

    Hellcat's Revenge II: Deadman's Hand (2019)

  • Thanks for the heads up, Cliff!

    Blog text (31)

  • Everyone, heads up!

    Inside Man (2006)

  • Even better, you'll have a heads-up on the meeting vibe.

    Blog text (22)

  • You're still going to grab the branch as you're climbing the tree, but just heads up, right?

Synonyms

alert
vsheads-up
82 2.8

Quick to notice and respond to what is happening

is more watchful and ready to react to unfolding situations
on the ball
vsheads-up
  • Informal
9 5.6

Quick to notice and understand things

is similar but emphasizes general watchfulness rather than skill or knowledge
on your guard
vsheads-up
6 4.4

Ready and alert to notice danger or problems

is broader readiness for everyday events rather than only danger
wide-awake
vsheads-up
1 2.5

Not feeling sleepy and able to think clearly

is about alert watching and quick response rather than just wakefulness

Antonyms

unaware
175 2.9

Not knowing that something is happening or true

distracted
3.1

Not able to pay attention because your mind is on other things

How Alert

vigilant
66 6.0
heads-up
  • Informal
7 5.2
alert
82 2.8
attentive
61 3.0
aware
∞ 2.7

Surface Forms

heads-up positive

Morphology

heads-up = head + up (transparent) = head + up

Directly derives from the exclamation 'heads up!' meaning be alert; the components 'head' + 'up' transparently signal alertness.

Etymology

The word heads-up comes from the short warning 'heads up', which told people to lift their head and look up to see danger in time, so to be 'heads-up' is to be alert and ready to react.