go over someone's head

verb

To take up an issue with another person's boss or other superior rather than beginning or continuing to deal with the original person.

“I listened carefully, but the technical jargon went over my head.”

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Meanings

verbgo over someone's head (third-person singular simple present goes over someone's head, present participle going over someone's head, simple past went over someone's head, past participle gone over someone's head)

present singular third person goes over someone's head · participle present going over someone's head · past went over someone's head · participle past gone over someone's head

  1. idiomaticTo take up an issue with another person's boss or other superior rather than beginning or continuing to deal with the original person.

    She went over his head and took her complaint directly to the president of the company.

  2. idiomaticTo escape someone's comprehension.

    I listened carefully, but the technical jargon went over my head.

Translations

Hungarian nem fér a fejébe
  • nem fér a fejébeto escape someone's comprehension
Russian через голову
  • через головуto take up an issue with another person's boss or other superior rather than beginning or continuing to deal with the original person
Cite this entry
APA

go over someone's head. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20over%20someone's%20head

MLA

“go over someone's head.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20over%20someone's%20head. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “go over someone's head,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20over%20someone's%20head.

Source: go over someone's head on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.