to get one's head straight
- idiom
- Informal
- I need to get my head straight before I can make any important decisions.
- just get your head straight
- go and get your head straight
Examples
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I need to get my head straight before this interview.
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I need to get my head straight.
Fiction book (1994) -
I need to get my head straight.
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Go home and get your head straight.
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If I could just get my head straight, then everything would be all right.
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We are not the same people as when we met, and she thought we needed to separate so she could get her head straight.
Blog text (30) -
But until I get my head straight, I'm not ready to just jump back in, and I need you to know that.
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I've been trying to get my head straight about things.
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You're gonna stay here for as long as it takes for you to get your head straight.
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I’m going on a long holiday and don’t want to see you again until I get my head straight.
Synonyms
Start thinking and acting in a sensible way again after being foolish or upset
To use your mind clearly without being confused
Able to use your mind without confusion to make good decisions
Think clearly when you are tired or upset
Put your thoughts and feelings in order after a time of confusion
To stop thinking about upsetting or confusing thoughts to feel calmer
To clear your head after feeling tired or distracted
To stop worrying and think calmly to focus
Make yourself stop worrying and start thinking clearly
To make your ideas clear and organized after feeling confused
Antonyms
How Clear-headed
- Informal
- Informal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'get' + 'head' + 'straight' allow a partial inference: 'head' maps metaphorically to 'mind' and 'straight' to 'in order' or 'clear,' so the overall idea of organizing or clearing one's thoughts is somewhat recoverable. However, this requires metaphorical mapping rather than direct compositional meaning, and a B1 learner might not predict the exact pragmatic sense without exposure, so it is only semi-transparent.
Etymology
Get one's head straight comes from the idea of making your head point straight ahead when your thoughts are mixed up. So, it means 'to clear your mind' and 'to think clearly'.