see beyond

see beyond (someone or something)

1. Literally, to look some distance past or in front of someone or something. It was impossible to see beyond the person directly in front of us in the snow storm. You can't see beyond the bend on these sharp turns, so you'll need to take them very slowly. I tried to see beyond the two police officers guarding the door to figure out what was happening inside.
2. To imagine, perceive, or anticipate the future as it will occur after some point or occurrence in time. A few savvy investors were able to see beyond the dire financial situation, setting themselves up for huge profits down the line. You have to learn to see beyond the issues you're having in the here and now if you're going to figure out how to improve things in the future.
3. To perceive or understand things that happen or exist outside the limits or scope of something. You've got to see beyond your own petty issues and realize that there are much more important things at stake right now. The CEO is trying to see beyond the company's current role in the market in order to expand and diversify its revenue streams.
See also: beyond, see
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

see beyond something

 
1. Lit. to be able to perceive into the distance beyond something. Can you see beyond the big tree there, where the barn is on the horizon? I can't see beyond the end of the road. I think I need glasses.
2. Fig. to be able to imagine the future beyond a certain time or event. He can't see beyond the next day—no sense of the future. Todd is usually able to see beyond his immediate situation. Ida not know what happened this time.
See also: beyond, see
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • see beyond (someone or something)
  • in front
  • front runner
  • front-runner
  • in front of (one's) very eyes
  • out front
  • the front office
  • front office
  • can't see (one's) hand in front of (one's) face
  • can't see hand in front of face
References in periodicals archive
NMB has historically been able to see beyond what seems ordinary and harness those opportunities.
NMB Bank launched new corporate campaign
"She always says: 'But why?' but I see beyond all that.
I adore Andrea for who she is
Incorporating these strategies into health education strategies could help teens see beyond the temptation of immediate pleasures and avoid risky situations.
Preventing teen pregnancy by avoiding risk exposure
Summary: "People rarely see beyond the surface of a life," laments one of Anne-Marie Drosso's characters in her short-story collection "Cairo Stories." Seeing beyond the surface, however, is exactly what Drosso does best in her accomplished debut.
Debut fiction peers behind Egyptian capital's facade
Like most youngsters of my generation, I couldn't see beyond the penguin suits favoured by the performers.
Adrian Goldberg: Nirvana, The Sex Pistols, Bizet... it's only rock 'n' roll but I like it
When readers comprehend from a critical stance, they see beyond the text, question the author's intent, and seek to understand how they are influenced by the author's message.
Approaching reading from a critical stance
It had soured him until he apparently hated the whole world because the world could not see beyond his deformity ....
Catholic like me: known primarily for his 1960s bestseller Black Like Me, Catholic convert John Howard Griffin also offers spiritual wisdom and moral insights that are still waiting to be discovered
And he's hoping a potential buyer also will see beyond flaws and be willing to pay $2.4 million for the 6.7-acre property.
Future unclear for old Falstaff brewery
By combining positive black-and-white images with negative black-and-white images, students learn to think and see beyond the surface, conceptualize beyond the mundane, and employ their imaginative sense of sight.
Positive/negative