abrir la cabeza

Literally, “to open the head (of someone)”.

• IPA^(key): /aˌbɾiɾ la kaˈbeθa/ [aˌβ̞ɾiɾ la kaˈβ̞e.θa] (Spain, Equatorial Guinea)
• IPA^(key): /aˌbɾiɾ la kaˈbesa/ [aˌβ̞ɾiɾ la kaˈβ̞e.sa] (Latin America, Philippines)
• Syllabification: a‧brir la ca‧be‧za

abrir la cabeza (first-person singular present abro la cabeza, first-person singular preterite abrí la cabeza, past participle abierto la cabeza)

1. (idiomatic) to smash someone's head in

   Synonym: descalabrar

• “abrir la cabeza”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025