out of one's league

English

Adjective

out of one's league

1. (idiomatic) In a situation in which one is mismatched with one or more others, whose accomplishments, preparedness, or other characteristics are on a significantly higher or lower level than one's own.
   • 2008, Laura Collins-Hughes, "Neil LaBute Finds Reasons To Be Nice (theatre review)," New York Sun, 3 Mar.,

     He has an unwitting instructor in his cocky, bullying co-worker and pal, Kent (Pablo Schreiber), a slimeball whose knockout wife, Carly (Piper Perabo), is way out of his league.

2. (idiomatic) too good or too expensive for one's level
   • An expensive car is out of your league right now, don't you think?
3. (idiomatic) exceeding one's competence level
   • 1964, "Also Current (book reviews)," Time, 15 May,

     Most U.S. authors trying to depict European sophistication seem indefinably out of their league, like children sashaying around in grown-up shoes.

   • These questions are out of my league, please let me ask a higher-up.

Synonyms

• out of one's depth
• beyond one's depth
• beyond one's scope

Translations

in a situation in which one is mismatched with one or more others

• German: eine Nummer zu groß für jemanden (de)

too good or too expensive

• Romanian: a nu fi de nasul cuiva (ro)

exceeding one's competence level

• Romanian: a fi depășit (ro)