go to one's head, to

go to someone's head

 1. Fig. [for something, such as fame or success] to make someone conceited. Don't let all this praise go to your head. Too much success will go to her head. 2. Fig. [for alcohol] to affect someone's brain. That last glass of champagne went right to her head. Any kind of liquor goes to my head.See also: go, head

go to one's head

1. Make one dizzy or drunk, as in Wine always goes to her head. [c. 1900] 2. Make one proud or vain, as in All this money is going to his head. [Early 1900s] See also: go, head

go to one's head, to

To be unduly influenced by praise or success. This expression, which likens the effect of praise to that of alcoholic beverages, dates from the twentieth century. The OED cites its appearance in Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Niggers (published in the United States as And Then There Were None, 1939): “He’s played God Almighty for a good many months. . . . That must go to a man’s head eventually.”See also: go