Over one's head

Over one's head
Over O"ver ([=o]"v[~e]r), prep. [AS. ofer; akin to D. over, G. ["u]ber, OHG. ubir, ubar, Dan. over, Sw. ["o]fver, Icel. yfir, Goth. ufar, L. super, Gr. "ype`r, Skr. upari. [root]199. Cf. {Above}, {Eaves}, {Hyper-}, {Orlop}, {Super-}, {Sovereign}, {Up}.] 1. Above, or higher than, in place or position, with the idea of covering; -- opposed to {under}; as, clouds are over our heads; the smoke rises over the city. [1913 Webster]

The mercy seat that is over the testimony. --Ex. xxx. 6. [1913 Webster]

Over them gleamed far off the crimson banners of morning. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

2. Across; from side to side of; -- implying a passing or moving, either above the substance or thing, or on the surface of it; as, a dog leaps over a stream or a table. [1913 Webster]

Certain lakes . . . poison birds which fly over them. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

3. Upon the surface of, or the whole surface of; hither and thither upon; throughout the whole extent of; as, to wander over the earth; to walk over a field, or over a city. [1913 Webster]

4. Above; -- implying superiority in excellence, dignity, condition, or value; as, the advantages which the Christian world has over the heathen. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

5. Above in authority or station; -- implying government, direction, care, attention, guard, responsibility, etc.; -- opposed to {under}. [1913 Webster]

Thou shalt be over my house. --Gen. xli. 40. [1913 Webster]

I will make thee rules over many things. --Matt. xxv. 23. [1913 Webster]

Dost thou not watch over my sin ? --Job xiv. 16. [1913 Webster]

His tender mercies are over all his works. --Ps. cxlv. 9. [1913 Webster]

6. Across or during the time of; from beginning to end of; as, to keep anything over night; to keep corn over winter. [1913 Webster]

7. Above the perpendicular height or length of, with an idea of measurement; as, the water, or the depth of water, was over his head, over his shoes. [1913 Webster]

8. Beyond; in excess of; in addition to; more than; as, it cost over five dollars. ``Over all this.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

9. Above, implying superiority after a contest; in spite of; notwithstanding; as, he triumphed over difficulties; the bill was passed over the veto. [1913 Webster]

Note: Over, in poetry, is often contracted into o'er. [1913 Webster]

Note: Over his signature (or name) is a substitute for the idiomatic English form, under his signature (name, hand and seal, etc.), the reference in the latter form being to the authority under which the writing is made, executed, or published, and not the place of the autograph, etc. [1913 Webster]

{Over all} (Her.), placed over or upon other bearings, and therefore hinding them in part; -- said of a charge.

{Over one's head}, {Over head and ears}, beyond one's depth; completely; wholly; hopelessly; as, over head and ears in debt.

{head over heels} (a) completely; intensely; as, head over heels in love. [Colloq.] (b) in a tumbling manner; as, to fall head over heels down the stairs. (c) precipitously and without forethought; impulsively.

{Over the left}. See under {Left}.

{To run over} (Mach.), to have rotation in such direction that the crank pin traverses the upper, or front, half of its path in the forward, or outward, stroke; -- said of a crank which drives, or is driven by, a reciprocating piece. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • over one's head — phrasal 1. : beyond one s comprehension he liked pictures but art criticism was over his head the speech went over the heads of the audience 2. : so as to pass over or ignore one s superior standing or authority quit when his juniors were… …   Useful english dictionary

  • over one's head — {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not understandable; beyond your ability to understand; too hard or strange for you to understand. * /Mary laughed just to be polite, but the joke was really over her head./ * /The lesson today was hard; it went over my… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • over one's head — {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not understandable; beyond your ability to understand; too hard or strange for you to understand. * /Mary laughed just to be polite, but the joke was really over her head./ * /The lesson today was hard; it went over my… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • over\ one's\ head — adv or adj. phr. 1. Not understandable; beyond your ability to understand; too hard or strange for you to understand. Mary laughed just to be polite, but the joke was really over her head. The lesson today was hard; it went over my head. Compare …   Словарь американских идиом

  • over one's head — adjective a) More complex or confusing than one can understand; beyond one’s comprehension. This is way over my head. Can you explain it more simply? b) More than one can handle; too much (especially in over one’s head). I’m in over my head on… …   Wiktionary

  • over one's head — idi over one s head beyond one s comprehension, ability, or resources …   From formal English to slang

  • over one's head — phrasal 1. beyond one s comprehension or competence < the most awful intellectual detail, all of it over my head E. B. White > 2. so as to pass over one s superior standing or authority < went over my head to complain > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • over one's head — 1) too difficult for someone to understand The joke went over her head so we had to explain it to her. 2) go to a more important person in charge, go to a higher official We didn t receive a good answer from the official so we went over his head… …   Idioms and examples

  • over one’s head — mod. confusing; too difficult to understand. □ This stuff is too hard. It’s over my head. □ Calculus is all over my head …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • have a roof over one's head — To have somewhere to live • • • Main Entry: ↑roof …   Useful english dictionary

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