# "Headsup" - origin & meaning **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headsup-origin-meaning/347696 "2006-03-09T16:42:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headsup-origin-meaning/347696/21 "2006-03-13T04:49:58Z")
> [@Gary T](#): > > Perhaps from a confusion with “leg up” (= advantage or head start)? I think that’s actually what I meant, since upon rereading it my use of the phrase “head up” seems bizarre even to me. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/96bed5/32.png) [@Cat\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headsup-origin-meaning/347696/22 "2006-03-14T21:01:08Z")
Sorry **Ignatz** I was being sloppy. BTW my question was specifically about the use of ‘heads up’ as a noun rather than a verb. It was one of those times when I came across a phrase which was new to be several times in a short space of time. I’m surprised it has such a long history, but then when I mentioned it to **Ponster** after starting this thread he said - oh yeah, when you’re playing sport it means pay attention … you know folks, sometimes fighting ignorance begins at home 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headsup-origin-meaning/347696/23 "2006-03-14T21:28:13Z")
Yeow. Now I can add one to my collection of joke names; **Ed Zupp!** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/headsup-origin-meaning/347696.md?page=1)