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Glite Dictionary
to get through one's head

to get through one's head

7.4
To finally understand or accept something difficult
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : entender
  • Let me tell you something you should get through your head.

Examples

  • After several attempts, she finally managed to get through her head that not everyone thinks like her.

  • Despite his stubbornness, it took a long time for him to get through his head that he needed to change his ways.

  • It was hard for her to get through her head that her friend had made a mistake.

Synonyms

to realize
vsto get through one's head
  • US
∞ 1.1

To suddenly understand something you did not know before

is more about coming to terms with hard facts rather than mere awareness
to accept
vsto get through one's head
∞ 3.5

To tolerate an unpleasant situation without complaining

is about mentally accepting and understanding difficult information, not just tolerating
to get it
vsto get through one's head
  • Informal
877 1.1

To understand something after someone explains it

is more about finally accepting difficult facts rather than just understanding
to get through
vsto get through one's head
74 3.1

To make an idea or feeling understood by someone

is the informal sense of finally accepting or understanding after resistance
to get wise
vsto get through one's head
7 7.0

To understand someone tricked you and become more careful

is about accepting unwelcome facts rather than learning from being deceived
to tumble
vsto get through one's head
  • UK
4 7.4

To finally understand something after some confusion

is a slower reluctant process leading to acceptance rather than sudden insight

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to reject
839 1.9

Refuse to accept someone or something

How Understood

to hit home
26 5.5
to get through one's head
  • Informal
7.4
to sink in
  • Informal
59 4.1
to register
48 3.4
to go over someone's head
  • Informal
1 8.1

Surface Forms

get through one's head infinitive
getting through one's head present participle
gets through one's head third person singular
got through one's head past
got through one's head past participle

Morphology

get + through + one's + head

The parts map fairly clearly onto the intended sense: 'get' (understand), 'through' (penetrate), and 'head' (mind) create a mental-penetration metaphor for understanding. However, the expression relies on a figurative transfer (information entering the mind) and a specific collocation pattern (get through one’s head) that may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Get through one's head uses the simple image of an idea trying to get through someone's head. When the idea finally goes in, the person 'understands' or 'accepts' it, so the phrase means to finally understand or accept something.