Abstract: An apparatus for cutting grass having a rotatable head and cords extending from the rotatable head. The head accommodates a reel within a chamber defined by the head. The cords are payed out through outlets formed in the head only when the head rotation is stopped and the head is simply bumped against the ground. The bottom of the head is formed with an opening through which a downwardly biased depressing member projects from inside the head. This depressing member is connected to the reel. Between the ceiling of the head and any one of depressing member and the reel is provided a pair of ratchet teeth mechanisms which allow the rearward rotation of the reel when the reel and the depressing member normally biased downwardly is depressed against the ground. The above ratchet mechanisms performs the reverse rotation of the reel through their guiding structure.