English idiom

get one's head (a)round

Register · Informal CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to manage to understand something difficult or surprising

Why this phrase?

Your head doesn't literally wrap around anything; it means to comprehend.

Example

“I still can't get my head around how the trick works.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

get to grips with

to begin to understand and deal with a difficult problem or task

wrap your head around something

To fully understand something complicated.

easier said than done

Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.

get the picture

to understand a situation, especially after an explanation

hang in there

to persevere and not give up despite difficulty

in a tight spot

in a difficult or dangerous situation

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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