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Reader question: Please explain “heads up” in the following”: “Thank you for the heads up on this upcoming television series. I’m going to watch it.” My comments: There’s a new television series coming up and you’ve notified a friend of its broadcasting schedule. He thanks you for alerting him on it, a series he/she would like to watch. “Heads up” literally means “raise your head up and watch out” (for danger). If you watch Discovery Channel documentaries on wildlife and happen to have seen mongooses forage for food, you might have a good idea of what “heads-up” means. As mongooses look for food, one of them always serves as a watchman for predators lurking somewhere near. Mongooses are rabbit-like creatures, only leaner and able to stand on their hind legs. On their hind legs and with their heads straight up, they’re standing tall, enabling them to look farther afield. With their head abruptly turning left and right, the mongoose sentinel makes a cute picture to observe. You’ve got to watch Discovery Channel or BBC documentaries on wildlife to observe this of course because nobody in the city has the luxury any more of enjoying the company of animals. But that’s neither here nor there. Insofar as learning about this phrase, you can learn it from observing fellow humans as well. If for instance you are drawing graffiti on the margins of your textbook instead of listening to the teacher in the classroom and the teacher walks your way, the classmate sitting next to you might whisper this in your ear: “Heads up! Teacher’s coming.” | 
