head first, so to speak

If we were to ask him why he is so manically going through these boxes left by the dumpster, he would find it hard to explain. He would perhaps begin by saying that he’s been looking for a woman. But then he would have gotten tongue tied, because the story did not make any sense. And if the hypothetical inquirer would press for more, and ask, If you can’t explain it, why are you dumpster diving, he would take issue with the expression. It’s not accurate to call it that, he never checks whatever ...