Learn English – Have you brought a head

idiom-request

When we see someone in such a rush to do something or in such a hurry to say something like good/bad news and they act all weird moving or talking fast and loud we say

'Have you brought a head?!'

'Look at him. Looks like he's brought a head.'

I think it refers to the wars in past where after defeating the enemy's army, they would cut off the enemy's leader's head and send it to the king by a soldier. The soldier rode his horse fast to the palace not wasting a second. Entering the palace, he loudly shouted the news while he was out of breath or talking fast.

What would be the best equivalent for this in English? Any idioms or idiomatic expressions?

Best Answer

One possible English idiom for asking someone why they are in such a rush to do something would be Where's the fire?

What's the big hurry, as in "We've got to finish up.—Why, where's the fire?"

This phrase, generally addressed to someone in an unseemly rush (such as a speeding motorist pulled over by a police officer), alludes to firemen hurrying to put out a fire.

from "where's the fire". The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Houghton Mifflin Company. 14 Jun. 2017. Dictionary.com

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