English, baby!

a good head on my shoulders

Date: Aug 22 2002

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“I think I have a good head on my shoulders.”
- Avril Lavigne, pop star, talking about dealing with the business side of making music.

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

smart, responsible, intelligent, wise, able to deal with complicated things, able to make good decisions, able to think clearly

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

You can use “a good head on (my, your, his, her) shoulders” when you want to describe someone who is responsible for him/herself. An intelligent person who can take care of himself has a good head on his shoulders. A person that doesn’t have a good head on his shoulders is irresponsible and needs help from others to get things done. A parent needs to worry about a child who doesn’t have a a good head on his shoulders, but doesn’t need to worry as much about a kid with a good head on his shoulders.
Hopefully, most of the people you know have good heads on their shoulders.

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

””Sarah has a good head on her shoulders. She does well in school. She has a good job. And, she’s a really good friend.”“

””Mom, I’m not stupid! I’m not a kid anymore. I’ve got a good head on my shoulders. I can take care of myself. You don’t have to worry about me all the time.”“

””My brother’s only 12, but he’s got a good head on his shoulders. He seems much older than he is.”“

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

It means one person have his own idea of something
by Fred
A good head on the shoulders means smart.
by Joyce (Toronto)
I think she wanted to say that she is clever and has the capacity of saving herself from the diffuculties that some people can’t success and be free..she thinks herself intelligent maybe…...
by Ogün (from Turkey)
I think it means he or she is wise enough to deal with complicated things.
by Derek
I think “a good head on my shoulders” means that you have a good memory and you dont forget easily.
by Jon (Cali – Valle, Colombia)
A good head on my shoulders means” I am smart.”
by Yang (Xi’an, P.R.China)
I think ” I have a good head on my shoulders” means that I have a clear, sharp mind. I can make good decision on things.
by Droll (Lhasa, Tibet, China)
I think “to have a good head on the shoulders” is to have someone who always help with the most difficult issues.
by Rosely (São Paulo, Brazil)
I think it means “I have a good brain. I can consider things clearly”.
by Violet
Smart
by Happy Huang (Nanning, China)