Meanings
verbgive someone their head (third-person singular simple present gives someone their head, present participle giving someone their head, simple past gave someone their head, past participle given someone their head)
present singular third person gives someone their head · participle present giving someone their head · past gave someone their head · participle past given someone their head
- idiomaticTo allow (someone) to act without constraint: to give (someone) free rein.
Origin
From horse racing: to allow a horse freedom of movement of its head.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
give someone their head. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20their%20head
MLA
“give someone their head.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20their%20head. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “give someone their head,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/give%20someone%20their%20head.
Source: give someone their head on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.