have one's head screwed on
Possessing practical judgment
To have one's head screwed on, usually followed by right or straight, means to be sensible, practical, and level-headed.
The image suggests mental components properly assembled and functioning well.
Someone with their head screwed on right makes sound decisions and doesn't get carried away by foolishness or emotion.
She's got her head screwed on—she won't fall for that scam.
The negative head screwed on wrong or backwards describes someone whose thinking or judgment seems consistently off.
- practicalityQuality of being useful
- common senseNative practical judgment
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
good judgment · prudence · sound mind · respectability · foresight · wisdom · discernment · thinking straight · adaptability · rationality · right mind · decision-making · self-control · problem-solving · competence · sensibility · no nonsense · insight
have one's head screwed onlose one's marbles
Go insane
flighty · foolish · harebrained · birdbrained · ditzy
have one's head screwed onlose the plot
Become confused or irrational
volatile · flaky · unbalanced · frazzled · unmoored
have one's head screwed onlose one's head
Become overwhelmed, act rashly
go off the deep end · fly off the handle · go to pieces · crack up · come unglued
headed, heading, headless, screws, screwed, screwing, screwdriver