I agreed to manage the project, but now I realize I’m in over my head.
word origin — From swimming — being in water deeper than your height means it's literally over your head and dangerous.
in over your head, at the drop of a hat, jump the shark, dig your heels in, pull a fast one: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 72. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
in over your head · idiom/ɪn ˈoʊvɚ jʊr hɛd/
to be in a situation too difficult to handle
I agreed to manage the project, but now I realize I’m in over my head.
Origin: From swimming — being in water deeper than your height means it's literally over your head and dangerous.
at the drop of a hat · idiom/ət ðə drɑp əv ə hæt/
to do something immediately without hesitation
She’s so spontaneous—she’ll travel anywhere at the drop of a hat.
Origin: From American 1800s — old contests began the moment someone dropped a hat as the official starting signal.
jump the shark · idiom/dʒʌmp ðə ʃɑrk/
to decline in quality after relying on gimmicks or bad decisions
The show was great for years, but it really jumped the shark when they added ridiculous plot twists.
Origin: From a 1977 Happy Days episode — Fonzie jumped over a shark on water skis, considered the show's quality decline point.
dig your heels in · idiom/dɪɡ jʊr hilz ɪn/
to refuse to change one’s opinion or stance
Despite all the evidence, he dug his heels in and refused to admit he was wrong.
Origin: From horsemanship — horses physically dig their heels into the ground when refusing to move forward at any cost.
pull a fast one · idiom/pʊl ə fæst wʌn/
to deceive or trick someone
He tried to pull a fast one by switching the contract before I signed it, but I caught him.
Origin: An American slang from the 1920s — pulling something quickly meant tricking someone before they noticed.