heads up
Alert before impact
Heads up functions as both a warning and a noun.
As an interjection, it alerts someone to immediate danger or something requiring attention: Heads up, there's a car coming!
As a noun, it means advance notice or a warning: Thanks for the heads up about the meeting change.
The adjective heads-up describes alertness or quick thinking: That was some heads-up play by the shortstop.
Warning or watchfulness
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- forewarnAlert in advance
- notifyFormally communicate information
- tip-offAdvance secret warning
red flag · wake-up call · beware · look out · watch out · signal · alarm · omen
Given necessary knowledge
- briefingConcise information session
- updateNew version or information
- noticeBecome aware of
- cognizanceState of knowing something
apprised · clued in · in the loop · notified · advised · enlightened · posted · filled in
Watcher or vista point
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
alert · on guard · attentive · eyes open · sharp · wary · cautious · observant
Brief head tilt
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- greetingExpression of welcome
- chin upEncouragement to stay positive
nonverbal · eye contact · glance · look · motion · indication · wave · bob
alert
Warning or watchfulness
tip-off · red flag · wake-up call · beware · look out · watch out · signal · alarm · omen · premonition
informed
Given necessary knowledge
cognizance · apprised · clued in · in the loop · notified · advised · enlightened · posted · filled in · prepped
lookout
Watcher or vista point
- observationAttentive watching or remark
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- watchfulnessCareful, sustained attention
monitoring · alert · on guard · attentive · eyes open · sharp · wary · cautious · observant · keen
nod
Brief head tilt
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- greetingExpression of welcome
chin up · nonverbal · eye contact · glance · look · motion · indication · wave · bob · tilt
- safety phrasessafe, warning, danger, caution, careful
- Attention phrasespay attention, watch out, look out, keep an eye on, all ears
- gambling lingoall in, ante up, raise the stakes, go all in, high roller
- pokerblinds, all-in, all in, call, seven-card stud
- Alarm Expressionshelp, mayday, SOS, oh no, watch out
- classroom commandssit down, stand up, raise hand, be quiet, listen
heads upambush
Surprise strike from concealment
surprise · blindside · caught off guard · sneak attack · out of the blue
heads upheads down
Intensely concentrated on work
oblivious · unaware · inattentive · asleep at the wheel · zoned out
heads upapology
Statement acknowledging wrongdoing
mea culpa · hindsight · postmortem · after the fact · too little too late