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Head over heels   /hɛd ˈoʊvər hilz/   Listen
preposition
Over  prep.  
1.
Above, or higher than, in place or position, with the idea of covering; opposed to under; as, clouds are over our heads; the smoke rises over the city. "The mercy seat that is over the testimony." "Over them gleamed far off the crimson banners of morning."
2.
Across; from side to side of; implying a passing or moving, either above the substance or thing, or on the surface of it; as, a dog leaps over a stream or a table. "Certain lakes... poison birds which fly over them."
3.
Upon the surface of, or the whole surface of; hither and thither upon; throughout the whole extent of; as, to wander over the earth; to walk over a field, or over a city.
4.
Above; implying superiority in excellence, dignity, condition, or value; as, the advantages which the Christian world has over the heathen.
5.
Above in authority or station; implying government, direction, care, attention, guard, responsibility, etc.; opposed to under. "Thou shalt be over my house." "I will make thee rules over many things." "Dost thou not watch over my sin?" "His tender mercies are over all his works."
6.
Across or during the time of; from beginning to end of; as, to keep anything over night; to keep corn over winter.
7.
Above the perpendicular height or length of, with an idea of measurement; as, the water, or the depth of water, was over his head, over his shoes.
8.
Beyond; in excess of; in addition to; more than; as, it cost over five dollars. "Over all this."
9.
Above, implying superiority after a contest; in spite of; notwithstanding; as, he triumphed over difficulties; the bill was passed over the veto. Note: Over, in poetry, is often contracted into o'er. Note: Over his signature (or name) is a substitute for the idiomatic English form, under his signature (name, hand and seal, etc.), the reference in the latter form being to the authority under which the writing is made, executed, or published, and not the place of the autograph, etc.
Over all (Her.), placed over or upon other bearings, and therefore hinding them in part; said of a charge.
Over one's head, Over head and ears, beyond one's depth; completely; wholly; hopelessly; as, over head and ears in debt.
head over heels
(a)
completely; intensely; as, head over heels in love. (Colloq.)
(b)
in a tumbling manner; as, to fall head over heels down the stairs.
(c)
precipitously and without forethought; impulsively.
Over the left. See under Left.
To run over (Mach.), to have rotation in such direction that the crank pin traverses the upper, or front, half of its path in the forward, or outward, stroke; said of a crank which drives, or is driven by, a reciprocating piece.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Head over heels" Quotes from Famous Books



... the Clown, "I tell myself funny stories to make me laugh, and then I have my hand-springs to make; that keeps me pretty busy," and he rolled along the shelf, head over heels. ...
— Kernel Cob And Little Miss Sweetclover • George Mitchel

... that time, incidentally, I might make up my mind, upon the evidence of my reduced standing, that school was, after all, to be preferred. And thus it was that I came to be a working boy helping build her proud father's factory at the time I fell head over heels in love with sweet Elizabeth. Certainly I had taken no easy road to the winning of my way and my bride; so reasoned the town, which presently took note of my infatuation. But, then, it laughed, there was time enough. I was fifteen and she was not thirteen. There was time enough, oh, yes! Only ...
— The Making of an American • Jacob A. Riis

... quickly, the marionette saw a huge bird running toward him. The next moment a powerful push sent him head over heels upon one of the eggs! As he fell he heard a loud crash, and at almost the same instant found himself carried through the air. What ...
— Pinocchio in Africa • Cherubini

... them narrowly out of her sharp, kindly eyes. This love-affair—if it were a love-affair—had been going on for years now and she was still in the dark as to the outcome. There was no question that the boy was head over heels in love with the girl—she could see that from the way the color mounted to his cheeks when Ruth's voice rang out, and the joy in his eyes when they looked into hers. How Ruth felt toward her new guest was what she wanted to know. This was, perhaps, the only reason why ...
— Peter - A Novel of Which He is Not the Hero • F. Hopkinson Smith

... placing himself within a few feet of the point of junction between the two lines, and then he begged me to pay particular attention to his evolution. When all was ready, the commodore threw himself, as it were, invisibly into the air, again head over heels, so far as I could discover, and alighted on the antagonist line, toeing the mark with a most astonishing particularity. It was a clever gyration, beyond a doubt; and the performer looked towards ...
— The Monikins • J. Fenimore Cooper


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