Quote
1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.
“I’m thinking about cartoons and he’s talking about how to save the planet, so I always feel in over my head there.”
Late Show host David Letterman on interviewing Bill Clinton. (ew.com)
Definition
1. Definition - Study the definition.
involved in something too difficult; overwhelmed; failing at a challenge
2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.
People don’t usually take on challenges that are too difficult for them. No one wants to fail or look silly. But sometimes you find yourself in a situation that’s a little harder than you thought it would be. When that happens, you’re in over your head.
David Letterman interviews a lot of people on his talk show. And he’s a funny guy, so usually he leads the interview by making jokes. But when he talks to someone very intelligent like Bill Clinton, he finds it hard to match their level of conversation. He’s in over his head.
Since Clinton is smart, some of what he says to Letterman goes over his head. That’s a similar but totally different idiom. If something goes over your head, you can’t understand it.
Examples
1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.
“I can’t possibly take on any more work right now. I am in over my head as it is.”
“I thought I could walk there but soon discovered I was in over my head and caught a bus.”