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I found the following dialogue on lang-8:

> A: 駄目だ、飲み過ぎて頭が回転しない。 B: 仕事、明日にしたら？
>
> A: Oh no, I drank too much so I can't concentrate on it. B: Why not do your
> work tomorrow?

So does 頭が回転する mean "able to concentrate" or am I misunderstanding it? In
English when ones head spins, it is a euphemism for being drunk or dizzy but I
guess in Japanese having ones head revolve quickly (maybe describing the speed
of thoughts turning over/ideas coming) equals being quick-witted. Would anyone
be kind enough to explain this idiom?
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2013-08-05T04:17:58.313
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2013-08-05T08:29:46.523
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question
idioms
Question on the idiom 頭が回転しない
It's just based on the metaphorical idea of something turning meaning that
something is functioning normally, as in a machine. In English we have sayings
about the gears not turning. You can't really try to draw parallels between
idiomatic phrases. For example, in English if you're dizzy then your head is
spinning, but in Japanese it's your eyes that spin (目が回る).

Look, for example,
[here](http://dic.yahoo.co.jp/detail?p=%E5%9B%9E%E8%BB%A2&stype=0&dtype=0).
Particularly at definition 3, which reads:

> ３ 機能を十分生かした働きをすること。存分に活動すること。「頭の―が鈍い」「人員を―させて事務をさばく」

The definition of 回転 includes the idea of something 'moving' metaphorically in
such a way that it fulfills its functions.
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2013-08-05T04:24:36.100
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2013-08-05T08:29:46.523
2013-08-05T08:29:46.523
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answer