skull hunter — = head hunter 1: In spite of the depredations of “skull hunters ,” we rode a considerable distance over ground … thickly strewn with human bones. head line • headline head line—(Palmistry) a line that supposedly indicates tem- perament and talents: If a line sets out from the head line , and rises straight to the mount of Jupiter, crosses it, and cuts the roots of the forefinger, it is excessive pride. headline—1. a title of a newspaper article usually printed in large type: The headlines that day were full of the news of kidnapping. 2. (pl.) the main points of the news which are read on radio or television: A female voice starts up read- ing headlines of murders, accidents and other political casu- alties. head man • main man head man—1. a chief or a tribal leader: The head men , or chiefs of the whole nation, were convened. 2. head of a depart- ment: Tomorrow, when she sees the head man … we’ll try and sort this business out. 3. a person walking ahead of a party of hunters, mountain climbers, etc.: Their positions in order of desirability were: sack man, head man , tail man and middle man. 4. smb. who beheads the condemned person: The walls resounded with the dread word of treason and its price—the gallows and the headman ’s axe. Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the compound headsman—1. = head man 4: As there was no English headsman capable of wielding a sword for such a pur- pose, one had been brought over from Calais. 2. the man in command of a whaling boat: The crew of the boat consists of the headsman , boatsteerer and four hands. 3. (dated) head or leading man, especially of a village community: Each town, or township, is divided into wards or barrios, the headsman of which is called cabeza de barangay. 4. (dated) a miner who pushes loaded cars to the place from which they will be hauled to the surface: This little boy is called a foal. He sometimes assists the headsman by pushing the tub beside him. main man—1. (also: leading man) a person that guides, directs, or leads: This year the skateboard club is reformed again with Doug Cameron as the main man . 2. (also: leading man) an actor who plays the leading male role: Affleck is very good as the main man and he plays his part in a reasonably straight, understated way. 3. (U.S. sl.) a person’s best friend: Pierre is my main man when it comes to all things website related. He’s a genius with this stuff. 4. (U.S. sl.) a woman’s husband or lover: He’s been her main man for two years. Do you think they’ll get married? head of water • water-head head of water—body of water kept at a certain height for supplying a water-mill, etc.: Let us compare a watermill driven by a head of water , and a windmill driven by the wind. water-head —1. the upper part of a stream near its source: Passing by the waterhead his father so loved in the old days of his carriage tours, we drove to the church. 2. = head of water: Only about one-fifteenth of the total length of the dam, or 500 feet, will be exposed to the maximum water-head of 85 feet. 3. (sl.) a stupid person; a half-wit: The body, these waterheads imagine, is a temple that should not be polluted by animal protein. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the adjectival compound watery-headed—(arch.) apt to frequently cry: She objected to the display of emotion … and was apt to speak of members of her sex as a watery-headed lot. health food • healthy food health food —a kind of natural, organic food without chem- icals: There is greater awareness about health food these days not just because people want to look good but to prevent car- diac diseases. healthy food—food that is low in fat and contains limited amounts of cholesterol and sodium: More effort had to be made to improve the accessibility of healthy food in deprived areas. heard it from the horse’s mouth • little bird told me, a heard it from the horse’s mouth—heard it directly from the person concerned: The story was even more intriguing when we heard it from the horse’s mouth . little bird told me, a—said of information gathered from a source not to be named: A little bird told me that the appoint- ment of a director will be made shortly. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase go tell it to the birds—addressed to a person who says smth. that is not credible or is a lie: After this incident, it might be difficult to dismiss some witchcraft claims with the expres- sion, “go tell it to the birds !” heart disease • heart-sickness heart disease—any morbid condition of the heart: Heart disease and strokes are related to potentially treatable but undetected hypertension. heart-sickness —great depression; despondency: Heart-sick - ness makes many dyspeptics; for mental trouble has a para- lyzing influence upon the digestive organs. heart-breaking • heart-broken heart-breaking—causing intense sorrow or grief; extremely distressing: There is also a heart-breaking scene as the children say goodbye to their mother at the train station. heart-broken —overwhelmed with anguish, despair, or grief: I was heart-broken and could not believe a human being who is supposed to be kind could treat me that way. heart-burning • heartburn heart-burning —an embittered, resentful state of mind: To avoid the heart-burning that may otherwise be caused by so frank a history as I intend this to be, I am going to be non- specific in dealing with the people… heartburn—an uncomfortable burning sensation in the lower chest, usually caused by stomach acid: Heartburn is caused by stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus. Changing the diet can help to prevent heartburn. heavy artillery • light artillery heavy artillery—powerful or persuasive persons or things: The cheap prices of its commodities are the heavy artillery with which it batters down all Chinese walls. light artillery—(U.S. Drug users) equipment for preparing and using drugs (hypodermic needle, etc.): All that junk on the table is my light artillery . heavy-headed • light-headed heavy-headed —1. drowsy; sleepy: I look so sleepy this morn- ing, warm, slightly confused and heavy-headed from too much slumber. 2. dull or stupid: They are prejudiced with German films because they expect them to be heavy-headed and suffer from a lack of humor. light-headed —1. weak, giddy and likely to faint: Low blood pressure can leave you feeling light-headed , sluggish or headachy. 2. having little judgment; reckless and irresponsible: He was more ready to contemplate war than were any in the West, and more lightheaded about the consequences. heavy in hand • heavy-handed heavy in hand —(of people, horses, etc.) hard to manage or head line – 172 –