英语短语"over sb.'s head"有两个核心比喻义,以及一个字面义,具体含义和用法如下:
表示某事物(如知识、内容、玩笑等)的难度或复杂度超过了某人的认知范围,导致对方“听不懂、摸不着头脑”。
主语(事物) + be over sb.'s head(强调状态)
主语(事物) + go over sb.'s head(强调“未被理解”的结果)
1、 The quantum physics lecture was over my head—I didn’t follow a word.
(这个量子物理讲座我完全听不懂——我一个字都没跟上。)
2、 The joke about Shakespeare went over the kids' heads—they just stared blankly.
(那个关于莎士比亚的笑话孩子们没听懂——他们只是茫然地盯着。)
3、 Don’t use too much jargon—you’ll go over the audience’s heads.
(别用太多行话——你会让观众听不懂的。)
指在沟通或解决问题时,跳过直接负责人,直接找其上级(如上司的上司、更高层领导)。常见于职场或层级分明的场景。
主语(人) + go over sb.'s head(+ to sb. higher)
主语(人) + take sth. over sb.'s head(强调“将某事越级上报”)
1、 She was frustrated with her manager, so she went over his head to the CEO.
(她对经理很不满,于是越过他去找CEO。)
2、 If your team leader ignores your complaint, you can go over their head to HR.
(如果你的组长无视你的投诉,你可以越过他们找人力资源部。)
3、 He took the issue over his boss's head because he felt it was urgent.
(他因为觉得事情紧急,就把问题越级上报给了老板的上级。)
指物理位置“在头部正上方”,是最基础的用法,但日常中较少作为“短语”使用(更偏向描述方位)。
A plane flew over my head as I walked to school.
(我走路去学校时,一架飞机从我的头顶飞过。)
way over sb.'s head:强调“远远超出理解”(程度更深)。
例:The PhD-level math problem was way over my head—I couldn’t even start.
(这道博士级的数学题我完全搞不懂——我甚至无从下手。)
含义 | 语境 | 例句核心结构 |
---|---|---|
难以理解 | 知识、内容、玩笑等 | The lecture was over my head. |
越级汇报/求助 | 职场、层级沟通 | She went over her manager's head. |
(字面)在头顶上方 | 物理方位 | A bird flew over my head. |
通过语境可以快速区分:如果涉及“难度/理解”,用第一个义项;如果涉及“层级/跳过某人”,用第二个义项。