have one's head read

Definitions

1. To have the bumps, indentations, and shape of one's skull examined and interpreted by a phrenologist.
   dated
2. To have one's mental health assessed, to receive a psychiatric examination.
   idiomatic

Examples

“He told the police that he went to a couple of "phrenologists" to have⟳ his head read⟳ with the idea of getting rid⟳ of the pain in his stomach.”

“In the summer of 1849, Walt Whitman walked into an office on Nassau Street in Manhattan to have⟳ his head read⟳. Lorenzo Niles Fowler, a phrenologist, palpated 35 areas on both sides of the skull corresponding to emotional or intellectual capacities in the brain.”

“"A guy who thinks he gets smart in this horse-race game oughta have⟳ his head read⟳."”

“She is not crazy so don't tell⟳ me to take⟳ her to a doctor to have⟳ her head read⟳.”

“Mr Gibbs says those who think⟳ Mr Obama is like⟳ George W Bush need⟳ to “have⟳ their heads read⟳”.”

CEFR level