Idiom
give a heads-up
Meanings
To warn or inform someone in advance so they are prepared.
Definition
To give someone an early warning or advance notice about something.
To give a heads-up means to tell someone something in advance so they can prepare. It is often used for warnings, schedule changes, or important information. The tone is usually helpful and informal, especially in American English.
Examples
- Thanks for the email—you really did give a heads-up about the delay.
- Can you give a heads-up before you bring guests over?
- My manager gave a heads-up that the meeting might start early.
- Please give a heads-up if you’re running late.
- They gave a heads-up about the road closure, so we took another route.
Common mistake
Learners often say “give a head up” instead of the correct phrase “give a heads-up.”
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (verb phrase)s
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- drop the ball To drop the ball means to make a mistake or fail to do something you were responsible for.
- have a chinwag To have a chinwag means to have a relaxed, friendly chat with someone.
- face the music To accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of what you have done or a difficult situation.