Beyond my expactations.

[Vandina]

Hello guys,

I met a couple tonight and one of them said to me: you are beyond my expectations. Then I replied: is that positive? He said it was very positive. Can anyone explain to me the exact meaning of that expression? I am quite close to his girlfriend, but I met her boyfriend for the very first time tonight, did he mean that he had heard a lot about me and his opinion about me is good?

Thank you for your help! I am not an English native speaker, so I have no idea what he really means...

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

Although it's not entirely clear from your information, I would assume that he had heard good things about you, perhaps from his girlfriend. When he met you he was even more impressed than he had expected to be. So yes, his opinion about you is good.

I feel that a more common form is, "You have exceeded my expectations".

 

[Raymott]

How close is the couple? I think the guy likes you.

 

[Vandina]

You are absolutely right, my explanation was not good at all... I wrote that question as soon as I got home, I did not want to forget that expression, which was new to me! Is it possible that he was also referring to my knowledge of the English language? I am wondering because he said more than once that we were having a normal conversation, without slowing it down to make me understand (as he would normally do with his Italian friends). Would you please give me an example of how you would personally use those expression (you exceed/ go beyond my expectations)? THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

 

[Vandina]

They are very close... I might have impressed him in a good way, if that expression IS positive!!! ;- )

 

[Raymott]

Yes, it is certainly positive. He could be talking about your spoken English. You are in a better position to know what kind of expectations he had of you. Why not ask your friend what he meant?

 

[JMurray]

Would you please give me an example of how you would personally use those expressions?

If you go to this link you'll find many examples for "beyond expectations".
You could also search similar phrases like "exceed(s)(ed)(ing) expectations", "surpass(es)(ed)(ing) expectations".

http://fraze.it/n_search.jsp?q=beyond+expectations&ff=&ffp=0&ffo=false&cpradius=1&l=0&t=0&sugg=off