brain
To hit someone very hard on the head, typically with a heavy or blunt object. It is a graphic and often informal verb used to describe a violent strike to the skull.
Examples
3 of 5He almost brained himself on the low doorframe while walking into the basement.
He nearly hit his head severely on the low doorframe while walking into the basement.
The autopsy report indicated that the assailant attempted to brain the victim with a ceramic statue.
The forensic report showed the attacker tried to strike the victim's head with a ceramic statue.
Watch out, or you'll brain yourself with that swinging garage door!
Be careful, or you will hit your head on that swinging garage door!
Word Family
Memory Tip
Associate the verb 'brain' with 'aiming for the brain'—if you brain someone, you are targeting their brain with a heavy object.
Quick Quiz
The clumsy worker _____ himself on the low-hanging pipe in the warehouse.
Correct!
The correct answer is: brained
Examples
He almost brained himself on the low doorframe while walking into the basement.
everydayHe nearly hit his head severely on the low doorframe while walking into the basement.
The autopsy report indicated that the assailant attempted to brain the victim with a ceramic statue.
formalThe forensic report showed the attacker tried to strike the victim's head with a ceramic statue.
Watch out, or you'll brain yourself with that swinging garage door!
informalBe careful, or you will hit your head on that swinging garage door!
Historical accounts suggest that the soldiers were occasionally brained by falling debris during the siege.
academicHistory records that soldiers were sometimes struck on the head by falling rubble during the siege.
The aggressive marketing campaign effectively brained the competition before they could even launch their product.
businessThe aggressive marketing campaign completely overwhelmed the competitors before they could launch their product.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
nearly brained
almost suffered a serious head injury from a blow
brain him
an informal, often aggressive command to hit someone on the head
brained it
slang for hitting something accurately or hard (less common)
Often Confused With
To brand is to mark something with a hot iron or a logo, whereas to brain is to hit the head.
To drain is to remove liquid or energy, while to brain is a physical act of striking.
Usage Notes
The verb form of 'brain' is specifically tied to the head. It is quite graphic and usually implies a high degree of force.
Common Mistakes
Learners often think 'braining' refers to thinking or using intelligence; however, as a verb, it only means to strike the head.
Memory Tip
Associate the verb 'brain' with 'aiming for the brain'—if you brain someone, you are targeting their brain with a heavy object.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old English 'brægen', referring to the organ; the verbal sense 'to dash the brains out' appeared in the late 14th century.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The term is often found in older crime fiction, pulp novels, or comic books to describe a physical knockout.
Quick Quiz
The clumsy worker _____ himself on the low-hanging pipe in the warehouse.
Correct!
The correct answer is: brained
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
A concussion is a mild brain injury caused by a hit to the h...
traumaA trauma is a very severe injury to the body or a deeply ups...
impactThe powerful effect that something has on a situation or per...
skullThe skull is the hard, bony structure that forms the head in...
blowTo move along or be carried by a current of air, or to force...
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