den Kopf zumachen

== German == === Etymology === Literally, “to close one’s head”. Compare Dutch hou je kop dicht. === Pronunciation === === Verb === den Kopf zumachen (weak, third-person singular present macht den Kopf zu, past tense machte den Kopf zu, past participle den Kopf zugemacht, auxiliary haben) (regional, derogatory) synonym of den Mund halten (“to shut up”) (regional) to stop worrying, to recess Synonyms: (den Kopf) abschalten, die Luken dichtmachen, die Schotten dichtmachen ==== Usage notes ==== Either sense is limited in milieus, not reliably understood by every German. The sense “shut up” has been traced to soldiers in the 1930s and GDR youth language in the late 1970s. In the 21st century it has been commonly heard in North Rhine-Westphalia, though less so in northeastern parts of the state. ==== Conjugation ==== === Further reading === Redensarten-Index: Den Kopf zumachen Redensarten-Index: Mach den Kopf zu!