
IdiomDaily Life
English
out of one's league
Meaning: Too good, attractive or expensive for someone to have a chance with.
Example: “He thought she was out of his league, but she said yes.”
Origin: From sports leagues, where teams play others of similar level. The figurative use is American, common from the mid-20th century.
Other ways to say this
Japanese: 高嶺の花 (Takane no hana) Literally: A flower on a high peak
Korean: 그림의 떡 (Geurimui tteok) Literally: A rice cake in a paintingEnglish: pie in the sky
More English idioms
- no room to swing a cat A very small or cramped space.
- a snake in the grass A treacherous person who pretends to be a friend.
- give one's eyeteeth for something To want something very badly.
- like chalk and cheese Completely different, though perhaps similar at first glance.
- blush to the roots of one's hair To go very red with embarrassment.
- not see beyond the end of one's nose To have a narrow outlook and ignore anything beyond one's immediate concerns.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
Keep exploring