Go over somebody's head

[carla guaraldi]

What does" did you go over my head" mean?

[Marylin]

Originally Posted by carla guaraldi

What does" did you go over my head" mean?

Say you are a teacher in a Secondary school. Someone's kid doesn't like what you said to him in front of the class. Your parent decides to go straight to the Principal to complain about you. It means the parent goes over your head instead of discussing it with you first.
You would say to the parent:

Why did you go over my head. You could have come to me and we could have discussed your son's problem.

Maybe it's not the best example but I hope you get the idea.
In other words, the person chooses to go to your "boss" and that just makes you look bad.

[silversea]

Originally Posted by Marylin

Say you are a teacher in a Secondary school. Someone's kid doesn't like what you said to him in front of the class. Your parent decides to go straight to the Principal to complain about you. It means the parent goes over your head instead of discussing it with you first.
You would say to the parent:

Why did you go over my head. You could have come to me and we could have discussed your son's problem.

Maybe it's not the best example but I hope you get the idea.
In other words, the person chooses to go to your "boss" and that just makes you look bad.

yeah, it is true that to go over so' head means to do something without discussing it with a particular person or organization first, especially when you should have discussed it with them
Yet I learn that there is another meaning with this:to be too difficult for someone to understand
e.g.The explanation went completely over my head.

[Tdol]

Yet I learn that there is another meaning with this:to be too difficult for someone to understand
e.g.The explanation went completely over my head.

This is true, but is unlikely to be used in 'did you go over my head?' You'd probably know if you hadn't understood.

[silversea]

yes, that is correct. I just meant the phrase "go over so's head" in general
Thanks tdol