Г-226

ВЕРТЕТЬСЯ В ГОЛОВЕ у кого VP subj: abstr usu. pres or past )

1. (of sth. well-known, familiar, that escapes s.o. 's memory at a given moment) not to come to s.o. 's mind despite the feeling that he is about to recall it

X вертится у Y-a в голове - X is on (at) the tip of Y's tongue.

2. to come to mind continually, recur in s.o. 's thoughts

X вертится у Y-a в голове - X is (keeps) running (going) through YS head (mind)

X keeps popping into YS head.

Я, например, даже думаю иногда одними ругательствами. Они всё время вертятся в голове (Кожевников 1). For example, sometimes I think in nothing but curse words. They're always running through my head (1a).