I fell headlong into a pool of icy water.headlonghead‧long /ˈhedlɒŋ $ -lɒːŋ/ adverb 
I fell headlong into a pool of icy water.3very quickly, without looking where you are going: Mortimer almost ran headlong into a patrol.—headlong adjective
WORD ORIGINheadlong
Origin:
1300-1400 headling ‘head-first’ (14-17 centuries), from head + -ling ‘in a particular direction’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- McGuire slid headlong into second base.
- But men are more likely than women to actually throw themselves headlong into romance and be swept away.
- He stood just within the room, looking steadily at the Princess, and went headlong where his genius pointed him.
- If your battle plan is to charge headlong at the enemy and engage him as soon as possible chariots are ideal.
- Instead the company is jumping headlong into the commercial satellite business.
- On 26 April the parties to litigation will be thrown headlong into a new landscape.
- Settlers rushed headlong across the wilderness to claim the best land.
- This did not mean she was prepared to throw herself headlong into a relationship with the first half-decent male who happened by.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I fell headlong into a pool of icy water. Mortimer almost ran headlong into a patrol.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The plane began a headlong plunge towards the Earth.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
I fell headlong into a pool of icy water. Mortimer almost ran headlong into a patrol. (=without looking where you are going)· I made a headlong dash up the street but just missed the bus.
The plane began a headlong plunge towards the Earth.· He fell headlong, his arms flailing, and struck the street hard enough to lose consciousness for a few seconds.· Once she stumbled and nearly fell headlong, but somehow she recovered her balance and tore on.· One step forwards and he would fall headlong.· Madra tripped and fell headlong in the leaf mould, and in an instant their pursuers were upon her.· She fell headlong, with a cry of alarm, and lay gasping for breath as the pain shot up her leg.· As it vanished, absorbed in the veils of blackness, Stephen stumbled over a twisted root and fell headlong.· Unbalanced, he was forced to plunge his foot back in to stop himself from falling headlong.· While trying to avoid police officers guarding the building, Howard falls headlong into a cellar.
· Up went a roar as he plunged headlong into the stew.
· She ran headlong into a woman.· She crouched back into the shadows and saw Geoffrey run headlong down the stairs.
· None the less, Henry did not rush headlong down the road to schism.· Settlers rushed headlong across the wilderness to claim the best land.· Rush headlong to the grave with the most outlandish style possible.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1rush/plunge headlong into something if you rush headlong into something, you start doing it too quickly without thinking carefully2with your head first and the rest of your body following SYN headfirst: - Stockbrokers should prevent their clients from plunging headlong into trouble.
- Up went a roar as he plunged headlong into the stew.
I fell headlong into a pool of icy water.3very quickly, without looking where you are going: Mortimer almost ran headlong into a patrol.—headlong adjective