Idioms

heads will roll

This page is about the idiom heads will roll

Meaning

You can say "heads will roll" if people are going to lose their jobs after making a mistake.

For example

  • How could the air force have bombed a school by mistake? Heads will roll, believe me!

  • Have you any idea how much money this mistake will cost the company? You can be sure that heads will roll.

Origin: Probably metaphorical, from the fact that the head of a person who has been executed by guillotine will roll around a little after falling into the basket below the blade.

Quick Quiz

Our boss said that heads will roll, so I'm

a. worried about my head

b. worried about my job

c. worried about my roll
a) worried about my head b) worried about my job c) worried about my roll

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey