over one's head

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: BEYOND ONE'S DEPTH.

2. To a more important person in charge; to a higher official.

When Mary's supervisor said no, Mary went over her head to the person in charge of the whole department.

If Johnny can't get what he wants from his big sister, he goes over her head and asks his mother.

3. See: HANG OVER ONE'S HEAD.