over one's head

The idiom "over one's head" is used to describe situations that are too complex, challenging, or beyond one's authority.

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🇬🇧 UK Voice:

Definition

B2General

(informal)Too complex or confusing to understand.

Example

The lecture on quantum physics was completely over my head.

B2General

(informal)Too much to handle or manage.

Example

I think I've taken on too many projects at once; I'm in over my head.

B2Business

(informal)Bypassing someone's authority to appeal to a higher authority.

Example

She went over his head to get approval from the CEO.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "over one's head":

go over someone's head over the head off one's head above oneself on one's head beyond someone's grasp beyond one's pay grade out of one's depth in one's head over the top put one over wrap one's head around go to someone's head head in the clouds put over off the top of one's head out of one's mind under someone's nose out of one's league out of hand have one's head read pass over heels over head