would lose one's head if it weren't attached
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Senses: examples: text: “I’m afraid I’ve forgotten my umbrella. Left it on the train.” […] “That man would lose his head if it weren’t attached,” Doris laughed.
ref: 1931, Julia K. Duncan [pseudonym; Walter Karig], “A Distasteful Introduction”, in Doris Force at Cloudy Cove or The Old Miser’s Signature, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: The Goldsmith Publishing Co., →OCLC, pages 57–58:
text: This mother came in to complain that her boy had lost three hats—one at his riding club, one on the bus on the way home [it is a public service bus and not a school bus], and one on the school play field. […] As we walked out of the office, the principal murmured to me: “That boy would lose his head if it weren’t attached.[…]”
ref: 1954 April, Forrest E. Long, “Encouraging Professional Competency Among Teachers”, in The Bulletin of the National Association of Secondary-School Principals, volume 38, number 202, Washington, D.C.: National Association of Secondary-School Principals, page 229:
text: She was a terrible stu­dent, impulsive, hyperac­tive, completely absent-minded and a troublemaker. Her parents humiliated her, calling her a bull in a china shop, saying she would lose her head if it weren’t attached.
ref: 1976 June 10, Victoria Graham, “Slow learners present new kind of problem”, in Progress Bulletin, volume 92, number 132, Pomona, Calif., page 18, columns 6–7:
text: When the fun-loving, disorganized Sanguine can't be bothered by the details of keeping up with appointments or getting the children where they need to be on time, the more responsible parent, usually a Melancholy, has to be the family manager, sighing with martyrdom while doing it, “Your mother would lose her head if it weren’t attached” or “Your father never knows which end is up!”
ref: 1986, Florence Littauer, “How Can You Bend the Twigs As They Should Go?”, in Discover the Real You by Uncovering the Roots of… Your Personality Tree […], Dallas, Tex.: Word Publishing, →ISBN, page 177:
text: “Mo-ther! Did you pack my white jeans?” Ellen yelled from upstairs. / “No, dear,” Mom answered. As usual she rushed off to help Ellen find them. Ellen would lose her head if it weren’t attached. Half of my life has been spent finding things Ellen has misplaced.
ref: 1986, Lou Kassem, chapter 3, in Middle School Blues, New York, N.Y.: Avon Camelot, published September 1987, →ISBN, page 25:
text: FORGET SOMETHING? If you're the sort of person who would lose his head if it weren't attached, maybe you'd better renew that subscription now!
ref: 1988 October, Monitoring Times, volume 7, number 10, Brasstown, N.C.: Grove Enterprises, Inc., →ISSN, page 103:
text: This guy would lose his head if it weren't attached! He's always looking for things.
ref: 1996, “找 (zhǎo)”, in Teng Shou-hsin, editor, Chinese Synonyms Usage Dictionary, Beijing, →ISBN, page 419:
text: For years, someone she once loved and respected has been telling her she is stupid and useless and would lose her head if it weren’t attached. She lacks confidence.
ref: 2000, Shawn D. Haley, Ellie Braun-Haley, “[Breaking Away] Rebuilding a Life”, in War on the Home Front: An Examination of Wife Abuse (Public Issues in Anthropological Perspective; 2), New York, N.Y.; Oxford, Oxfordshire: Berghahn Books, →ISBN, page 178:
text: “Please stop worrying about me. Your guests will arrive soon, and you’re not dressed for the evening.” / “Gracious, you’re right. Harvey says I would lose my head if it weren’t attached. I’d best dash.”
ref: 2008, Robin Lee Hatcher, chapter 26, in Wagered Heart: A Novel, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, →ISBN, page 183:
text: I was just using it. Where has it gone? […] “In all my excitement, I forgot that I had prepared for this possibility by bringing the text into the room with me. I would lose my head if it weren’t attached.”
ref: 2009, Melissa Francis, chapter 16, in Bite Me!, New York, N.Y.: HarperTeen, →ISBN, pages 186–187:
text: Yes, that was him. He doesn’t travel much, and I am sure he would lose his head if it weren’t attached.
ref: 2011, Morgan Reinbold, “Chi”, in The Cowboy and the Desk Clerk, Charleston, S.C.: [CreateSpace], published 27 August 2012, →ISBN, page 183:
text: I had to confess to my Love God that I lost the ring, and he would certainly remind me that I would lose my head if it weren’t attached.
ref: 2017, Diane Pascoe, “The Wedding Ring”, in Life Isn’t Perfect, but My Lipstick Is: Real Life. Real Laughs., North Charleston, S.C.: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, →ISBN, page 137:
glosses: Alternative form of would lose one's head if it wasn't attached.