Idioms

over your head

This page is about the idiom over your head

Meaning

If something you hear or read is over your head, or goes over your head, you don't understand it because the language or the ideas are too advanced for you.

For example

  • I tried listening to a show on the radio about modern physics, but most of it was over my head and I gave up after about ten minutes.

  • Jerry told a really funny joke about the economics of the cheese industry, and it went right over Tom's head. He didn't even smile.

Note:
For another idiom with similar wording, but a very different meaning, see the listing for "go over your head".

Quick Quiz

I could tell the lecture had gone over my student's head because he

a. couldn't answer a simple question

b. made intelligent comments

c. asked interesting questions
a) couldn't answer a simple question b) made intelligent comments c) asked interesting questions

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey