A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

head line • headline
head line —(Palmistry) a line that supposedly indicates tem-
perament and talents: If a line sets out from the head line, and
rises straight to the mount of Jupiter, crosses it, and cuts the
roots of the forefinger, it is excessive pride.
headline —
1
. a title of a newspaper article usually printed
in large type: The headlines that day were full of the news
of kidnapping. 2. (pl.) the main points of the news which
are read on radio or television: A female voice starts up read-
ing headlines of murders, accidents and other political casu-
alties.
head man • main man
head man —
1
. a chief or a tribal leader: The head men, or
chiefs of the whole nation, were convened. 2. head of a depart-
ment: Tomorrow, when she sees the head man … we’ll try
and sort this business out. 3. a person walking ahead of a party
of hunters, mountain climbers, etc.: Their positions in order
of desirability were: sack man, head man, tail man and middle
man. 4. smb. who beheads the condemned person: The walls
resounded with the dread word of treason and its price — the
gallows and the headman’s axe.
Note: 
The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with
the compound headsman—
1
. = head man 4: As there was no
English headsman capable of wielding a sword for such a pur-
pose, one had been brought over from Calais. 2. the man in
command of a whaling boat: The crew of the boat consists of
the headsman, boatsteerer and four hands. 3. (dated) head or
leading man, especially of a village community: Each town, or
township, is divided into wards or barrios, the headsman of
which is called cabeza de barangay. 4. (dated) a miner who
pushes loaded cars to the place from which they will be hauled to
the surface: This little boy is called a foal. He sometimes assists
the headsman by pushing the tub beside him.
main man —
1
. (also: leading man) a person that guides,
directs, or leads: This year the skateboard club is reformed
again with Doug Cameron as the main man. 2. (also: leading
man) an actor who plays the leading male role: Affleck is very
good as the main man and he plays his part in a reasonably
straight, understated way. 3. (U.S. sl.) a person’s best friend:
Pierre is my main man when it comes to all things website
related. He’s a genius with this stuff. 4. (U.S. sl.) a woman’s
husband or lover: He’s been her main man for two years. Do
you think they’ll get married?