# Head over heels

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-over-heels/50803>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 19, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-over-heels/50803 "2001-01-19T03:28:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PlanMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@PlanMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlanMan)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-over-heels/50803/1 "2001-01-19T03:28:12Z")

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Now that y’all have solved “thrown for a loop,” can someone please explain “head over heels”? In context, it usually seems to be similar (head over heels in love, for example), but the image is confusing. Normally, I am in a position of being “head over heels.” Now, if I were “heels over head” THAT would be unusual, or at least it would be at the office.

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**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-over-heels/50803/2 "2001-01-19T03:33:05Z")

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As in “falling” for someone, “head over heels” refers to the “ass over teacups” mental mood of someone in love.

Imagine tumbling down a hill.

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-over-heels/50803/3 "2001-01-19T03:39:19Z")

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This appears to be similar to “I could care less” and “Lock and load.” Both of those are counterintuitive to what they are generally used to mean. “Heels over head” would make more sense, but I was unable to find any citation of either a) if that phrase was ever used and b) if so, when the reversal might have occurred. A Google search on “head over heels” will give you the sources for what little I found.

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**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2001, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-over-heels/50803/4 "2001-01-19T03:54:39Z")

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The master spoke:  
[Shouldn’t the expression “head over heels” be “heels over head”?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_241a.html)