head in his lap vs head on his lap

"Head in his lap" and "head on his lap" are both acceptable phrases, but they would be used in somewhat dissimilar contexts. "Head in his lap" implies that the head is positioned inside the lap, while "head on his lap" suggests that the head is resting on top of the lap.

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Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: March 09, 2025 • 5741 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"head in his lap"

This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone's head is positioned inside another person's lap.

Examples:

She rested her head in his lap while reading a book.
The child fell asleep with his head in his mother's lap.

Show examples from the web [+]

I cradled his head in my lap.
That fella I saw you with the day the train... Died with his head in your lap.
And when he's exhausted himself... he returns to me... puts his head in my lap... and asks me to help him find a way to die.
She's who you call when the C.E.O. of your Fortune 500 company crashes his Bentley with his 18-year-old mistress's head on his lap.
With her head in the lap of...
So... you should lie down here with your head in my lap.
Can I put my head in your lap?
You want her head in your lap. Marti.
With her head in the lap of - What a coincidence.
Thousands of years, Salome has meant nothing but a naked girl with a man's head in her lap.
Well one day, Emma comes in and she hangs her head in her lap, and she sobbed for most of the hour.
Come, quick, quick, that I may lay my head in thy lap.
Come, quick, quick, that I may lay my head in thy lap.
She's who you call when the C.E.O. of your Fortune 500 company crashes his Bentley with his 18-year-old mistress's head on his lap.
I just like to lay my head in people's laps.
Why can't I put my head in your lap and cry?
So she's laying with her head in my lap and I'm like:
Why can't I put my head in your lap and cry?
But if I was ever depressed... she'd lay her head in my lap... look up at me with those big old eyes... and even though I thought I hated that dog... I loved her.
With your head on mother's lap.

Alternatives:

head resting in his lap
head buried in his lap
head nestled in his lap
head lying in his lap
head placed in his lap

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"head on his lap"

This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone's head is resting on top of another person's lap.

Examples:

He gently placed her head on his lap to comfort her.
She leaned her head on his lap while watching TV.

Show examples from the web [+]

She's who you call when the C.E.O. of your Fortune 500 company crashes his Bentley with his 18-year-old mistress's head on his lap.
She's who you call when the C.E.O. of your Fortune 500 company crashes his Bentley with his 18-year-old mistress's head on his lap.
With your head on mother's lap.
You want to lay that weary head on someone's lap, you look no further.
She'd lay down, put her head on my lap
She'd lay down, put her head on my lap and just talk, you know, about what you might turn out like.
He said, "Put your head on my lap,"
I'd come home and sit by her she'd put her head on my lap and I'd stroke it.
And I would like to... rest my head on the lap of someone who... s-s-someone...
I cradled his head in my lap.
With her head in the lap of...
So... you should lie down here with your head in my lap.
Can I put my head in your lap?
You want her head in your lap. Marti.
With her head in the lap of - What a coincidence.
Thousands of years, Salome has meant nothing but a naked girl with a man's head in her lap.
Let's just say his head was in her lap.
Okay, you can take my head out of your lap now.
Well one day, Emma comes in and she hangs her head in her lap, and she sobbed for most of the hour.
Come, quick, quick, that I may lay my head in thy lap.

Alternatives:

head resting on his lap
head lying on his lap
head placed on his lap
head positioned on his lap
head supported by his lap

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head in his lap vs head on his lap

"head in his lap"

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