Get Your Head Around - Idiom of the Day for IELTS

The IELTS idiom “Get Your Head Around” is the perfect one for responding to questions about describing situations that are hard to understand, accept, or even adapt to. This idiom refers to one’s mental effort that is needed to comprehend something difficult, confusing, or even surprising. 

Hence, you can easily use this idiom in your IELTS writing or in your IELTS Speaking test. In this blog of ours, you will perfectly learn how to use “Get Your Head Around” accurately in your answers, with sample sentences, meanings, and context-based practice exercises to boost your IELTS exam’s lexical resource score.

Meaning of the ‘Get Your Head Around’ IELTS Idiom

This particular idiom “get your head around” means to understand or accept something that is complex, confusing, or even surprising. This is often used when dealing with difficult ideas, unfamiliar concepts, or a shocking news.

In the IELTS Speaking and Writing, the ‘Get your head around’ idiom is useful for expressing hardships in understanding new or abstract topics, adjusting to change, and also dealing with a new set of experiences.

For example:

“It took her a while to get her head around the complex essay structure that is required in IELTS Writing Task 2.”

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Where Did the Idiom ‘Get Your Head Around’ Come From?

This phrase is informal and is said to have originated in British English during the 20th century. This uses the metaphor of physically “wrapping your head” around a particular object to symbolize mentally grasping or even comprehending an idea. 

Over the time, it became a common expression to use in both professional and everyday settings.

Synonyms of the ‘Get Your Head Around’ Idiom

• Understand
• Comprehending
• Grasping
• Figuring out
• Making sense of
• Come to terms with
• Digesting (information)

Antonyms of the ‘Get Your Head Around’ Idiom

• Misunderstanding
• Struggling with
• Being confused by
• Failing to comprehend
• Not accepting
• Be puzzled by

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Using the ‘Get Your Head Around’ Idiom

• Using it in a very formal writing  

It is more suitable for IELTS Speaking than using it in an Academic Writing.

• Taking it literally  

It is not about physically moving your head and it refers to understanding.

• Using it with small things 

It is usually used for something difficult or surprising and not just for simple facts.

• Mixing the tense forms incorrectly 

The correct usage includes “I cannot get my head around this..” or “I at last got my head around..”

A Sample Scenario to Use the Idiom ‘Get Your Head Around’

In the IELTS Speaking Part 2, if you are asked to describe something difficult a friend of yours learned, you can answer like:

“When she first started studying economics, she couldn’t get her head around the concept of inflation. But, right after reading a few examples and discussing it with her teachers, she finally understood it clearly and was able to grasp the concepts with ease.”

This will show the examiner that you are capable of using idioms naturally as you are narrating the person’s learning process in this cue card question.

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Examples to Understand the Usage of the ‘Get Your Head Around’ Idiom in Sentences

• It took her some time to get her head around the new computer software.
• I cannot get my head around how some people still deny climate change.
• He finally got his head around the driving rules before his test.
• It is hard to get your head around this vast number of information in such a short time.
• I struggled at first, but then eventually got my head around the IELTS writing criteria.
• ” Finally, I can get my head around his decision to moving.”
• “It is difficult for children to get their head around the adult problems.”
• “She can’t get her head around what is going on here and Jack has to explain everything to her.”

Using idioms like “Get Your Head Around” adds a conversational tone and shows your ability to speak naturally about ongoing situations. 

It is perfect for expressing your thoughts about trying to learn about a new or unfamiliar idea or concept. By integrating this idiom into your speaking practice, you'll not only expand your vocabulary but also demonstrate your comfort with real-life English expressions. 

Keep practicing it in context, and your responses will feel more fluent and confident during the IELTS test. If you're aiming for top scores, follow the IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ to further enhance your vocabulary and overall test performance.

Useful Links:

• Don’t Spare the Horses Idiom: Meaning, Origin, Usage & Exercises 
• Stuck in a Rut – Idiom of the Day for IELTS
• Cash-flow Problem - Idiom of the Day for IELTS
• Achieving Precision in IELTS Writing Vocabulary
• 100+ Advanced Vocabulary Word List for IELTS (PDF Available)
• Practical Tips on How to Improve Vocabulary for the IELTS Exam