over one's head
Too complex intellectually
Beyond one's understanding or comprehension.
Something that goes over your head is too complex or specialized for you to grasp: The physics lecture went completely over my head.
Can also describe being overwhelmed by circumstances: She's in over her head with this project.
The image is of something passing above you, out of reach.
Causing mental uncertainty
- bafflingImpossible to understand
- bewilderingCausing utter confusion
- perplexingCausing mental confusion
- unfathomableBeyond comprehension or measurement
incomprehensible · unintelligible · impenetrable · inscrutable · opaque · cryptic · obscure · abstruse
Death by water inhalation
- swampedOverwhelmed beyond capacity
- inundatedOverwhelmed by quantity
- floodedCovered with water
- buriedPlaced beneath earth
snowed under · struggling · floundering · sinking · underwater · submerged · engulfed · overloaded
Lacking knowledge of something
- unnoticedNot perceived by anyone
- missedFailed to reach
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- whooshedMoved with rushing sound
lost on · escaped · passed by · oblivious · clueless · unsuspecting · in the dark
Went around an obstacle
- overruledRejected by higher authority
- circumventedEvaded by going around
- supersededReplaced by something newer
- escalatedIncreased in severity
appealed · end-run · chain of command · higher-up · superior · boss · management · authority
confusing
Causing mental uncertainty
- bafflingImpossible to understand
- bewilderingCausing utter confusion
- perplexingCausing mental confusion
unfathomable · incomprehensible · unintelligible · impenetrable · inscrutable · opaque · cryptic · obscure · abstruse · arcane
drowning
Death by water inhalation
buried · snowed under · struggling · floundering · sinking · underwater · submerged · engulfed · overloaded · overburdened
unaware
Lacking knowledge of something
- unnoticedNot perceived by anyone
- missedFailed to reach
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
whooshed · lost on · escaped · passed by · oblivious · clueless · unsuspecting · in the dark
bypassed
Went around an obstacle
- overruledRejected by higher authority
- circumventedEvaded by going around
- supersededReplaced by something newer
escalated · appealed · end-run · chain of command · higher-up · superior · boss · management · authority · sidestepped
over one's headeasy to understand
crystal clear · straightforward · simple · easy · self-explanatory
over one's headelementary
Of first principles
basic · child's play · entry-level · rudimentary · simple
over one's headno-brainer
Self-evident decision
child's play · a walk in the park · a breeze · easy as pie · effortless
over, head, overhead, heads, headed, heading, headless, header, ones