B2 verb Informal

brain

/breɪn/

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 5
1

He 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.

2

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.

3

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

Noun
brain
Verb
brain
Adverb
brainlessly
Adjective
brainy
Related
brainpower
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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

1

He almost brained himself on the low doorframe while walking into the basement.

everyday

He nearly hit his head severely on the low doorframe while walking into the basement.

2

The autopsy report indicated that the assailant attempted to brain the victim with a ceramic statue.

formal

The forensic report showed the attacker tried to strike the victim's head with a ceramic statue.

3

Watch out, or you'll brain yourself with that swinging garage door!

informal

Be careful, or you will hit your head on that swinging garage door!

4

Historical accounts suggest that the soldiers were occasionally brained by falling debris during the siege.

academic

History records that soldiers were sometimes struck on the head by falling rubble during the siege.

5

The aggressive marketing campaign effectively brained the competition before they could even launch their product.

business

The aggressive marketing campaign completely overwhelmed the competitors before they could launch their product.

Word Family

Noun
brain
Verb
brain
Adverb
brainlessly
Adjective
brainy
Related
brainpower

Common Collocations

nearly brained almost hit on the head
brain someone with to strike someone's head using a specific object
accidentally brained hitting one's head or someone else's by mistake
threaten to brain to warn someone that you will hit them on the head
brained by a rock struck on the head by a stone

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

brain vs brand

To brand is to mark something with a hot iron or a logo, whereas to brain is to hit the head.

brain vs drain

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

transitive verb regular past tense: brained present participle: braining
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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 Words

homoducable

C1

To adapt, guide, or standardize a set of diverse elements so they conform to a single, unified, or human-centric model. In specific contexts, it refers to the act of leading different groups toward a synchronized state of behavior or belief.

intervoctude

C1

Describing a state or quality of silence or pause that occurs between vocalizations or segments of dialogue. It characterizes the meaningful transition or rhythmic gap in speech or musical performance where voices are suspended.

extraprobful

C1

A specialized term used in advanced logic and data analysis to describe an excessive or supplementary amount of verifying evidence. It refers to a state of surplus certainty where the proof provided exceeds the standard requirements for validation.

uniservive

C1

The organizational concept or state of providing integrated, unified service delivery through a single access point. It refers to the consolidation of various administrative or support functions into one streamlined system to improve efficiency and user experience.

perialiion

C1

To perialiion is to navigate or transition through a phase of close proximity to a boundary, central point, or specific limit without fully merging with it. It describes a precise, cyclical movement that skirts the edges of a concept or physical space, often used in technical or metaphorical contexts.

underjudible

C1

Describing something that cannot be adequately assessed or evaluated because it lacks sufficient detail, evidence, or falls below the necessary threshold for judgment. It is typically used in technical or formal contexts to indicate that a standard of measurement cannot be applied.

semiequion

C1

A semiequion refers to a state of partial or incomplete equilibrium within a complex system, where certain variables are balanced while others remain in flux. It is primarily used in specialized mathematical modeling or theoretical logic to describe a stable midpoint that does not reach full parity.

inprivdom

C1

To sequester or convert public information, assets, or processes into a private domain, often for the purpose of exclusive control or internal processing. It describes the act of moving something from a shared or public space into a restricted, private environment.

hyperspecile

C1

To concentrate on or restrict oneself to an extremely narrow and specific field, subject, or niche. It refers to the process of refining a focus to such a high degree that it excludes broader contexts or applications.

hyperpendward

C1

A hyperpendward refers to a state of extreme directional over-correction or an excessive swing past a central point in a pendular system. It is used both in mechanical contexts to describe physical oscillation and metaphorically to describe systems that have moved too far in one direction after attempting to find balance.

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