IdiomBody & Senses
Polish
Polishmieć głowę na karku
Meaning: To be sensible, intelligent, and capable of thinking for oneself.
Literally: To have head on neck
Example: “Nasza córka ma głowę na karku, poradzi sobie w wielkim mieście.” — Our daughter has her head screwed on; she'll manage in the big city.
English equivalent: To have one's head screwed on
Equivalents in other languages
English: have one's head screwed on
Origin: Having one's head on one's neck is having it firmly where it belongs, and so being sensible and capable. The phrase means having one's wits about one, like English "to have one's head screwed on right." No particular story lies behind it.
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