head and shoulders above
head and shoulders above (someone or something)
Significantly better than someone or something. I think John should definitely get the job—he's head and shoulders above all the other applicants.
See also: above, and, head, shoulder
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
head and shoulders above someone or something
Fig. clearly superior to someone or something. (Often with stand, as in the example.) This wine is head and shoulders above that one. John stands head and shoulders above Bob.
See also: above, and, head, shoulder
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
head and shoulders above
Greatly superior to, as in This book is head and shoulders above her first one. This expression transfers physical stature to other kinds of status. [Mid-1800s]
See also: above, and, head, shoulder
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
head and shoulders above
by far superior to. informal 1996 Time Out The film stands head and shoulders above 99.9 per cent of post-70's Hollywood product.
See also: above, and, head, shoulder
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
head and ˈshoulders above somebody/something
very much better, greater, etc. than somebody/something: He’s head and shoulders above the other candidates.See also: above, and, head, shoulder, somebody, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
head and shoulders above, to be
To be considerably superior. This expression, which likens superiority to physical stature (a tall person’s head and shoulders obviously are higher than a short person’s), appeared in the 1864 edition of Noah Webster’s American Dictionary. However, it was used in a different sense earlier, that is, the forceful pushing ahead of something or someone. “Any, whom necessity thrusts out by head and shoulders,” wrote Nathaniel Ward (The Simple Cobbler of Agawam in America, 1647).
See also: and, head, shoulder
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- head and shoulders above (someone or something)
- head and shoulders above somebody/something
- head and shoulders above someone/something
- head and shoulders above, to be
- stand head and shoulders above
- stand head and shoulders above (someone or something)
- stay head and shoulders above (someone or something)
- tower head and shoulders above
- tower head and shoulders above (someone or something)
- drape around