ENGLISH
REFERENCE

heads or tails

idiom
Meaning

The practice of flipping a coin in the air, to choose between two alternatives based on which side lands face up.


Origin

first recorded 19th c.

Attested since at least 1833, on the second page of Galignani's Messenger: "amusing themselves by pitching quoits, spoiling halfpence at heads or tails with the gingerbread merchants, drinking beer, smoking, etc".

Examples
SIMPLE

Let's flip a coin for heads or tails to decide.

CONTEXTUAL

We could not agree on which movie to watch, so we settled it with a quick game of heads or tails.

COMPLEX

Faced with two equally unappealing options, he decided to leave his fate to chance by calling heads or tails on a spinning coin.

Anchors to
Related idioms4entries
  1. 01

    bang some heads together

    Attempt to get results from a previously ineffectual or argumentative group, typically by coercion or force.

  2. 02

    butt heads

    To argue uncompromisingly.

  3. 03

    heads will roll

    Some people will be fired for incompetence.

  4. 04

    turn heads

    To garner a considerable amount of attention.

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