off the top of your head
/ˌɒf ðə ˌtɒp əv jə ˈhed/INFORMAL · B2
Meaning
from memory, without checking or thinking for long
Examples
- 1I'd say, off the top of my head, that the trip costs about two hundred pounds.
- 2Can you name five capital cities off the top of your head?
- 3I don't know his number off the top of my head, but I can look it up.
- 4The waiter listed all twelve desserts off the top of his head, which impressed the whole table.
- 5Asked for the population of Wales, Tom guessed three million off the top of his head.
Grammar
Works like an adverb, often with say, know or name. your changes to match the speaker: my, his, their.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about the body
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →keep your fingers crossedto hope that something will go wellplay it by earto decide what to do as things happen, without a planrule of thumba rough practical guide based on experienceput your foot in itto say something by accident that embarrasses or upsets someonebreak a legused to wish a performer good luckstick your neck outto take a risk by saying or doing something bold
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
Here you get a couple of questions. The app gives you 16 practice modes, native equivalents and spaced repetition that tells you when it’s time to refresh.
