have a head on one's shoulders

verb

To have good sense or judgement.

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Meanings

verbhave a head on one's shoulders (third-person singular simple present has a head on one's shoulders, present participle having a head on one's shoulders, simple past and past participle had a head on one's shoulders)

present singular third person has a head on one's shoulders · participle present having a head on one's shoulders · participle past had a head on one's shoulders · past had a head on one's shoulders

  1. To have good sense or judgement.

    "You'd best keep the tatts till he's drunk," said Killigrew drily, "for I think you'll find my lord has a head on his shoulders when he's sober."

    1897, Frances Heath Freshfield, The Wrothams of Wrotham Court, page 73

Translations

Polish mieć głowę na karku
  • mieć głowę na karkuTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

have a head on one's shoulders. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20a%20head%20on%20one's%20shoulders

MLA

“have a head on one's shoulders.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20a%20head%20on%20one's%20shoulders. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “have a head on one's shoulders,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20a%20head%20on%20one's%20shoulders.

Source: have a head on one's shoulders on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.