Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
over one's skis. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
over one's skis, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
over one's skis in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
over one's skis you have here. The definition of the word
over one's skis will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
over one's skis, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Per Noreen Malone’s article in the Intelligencer: “the phrase’s metaphorical use seems to have begun in the finance world. Its first non-skiing print usages came in the early nineties, in publications like Investment Dealers’ Digest. For instance, a 1991 article quoted a “market source” describing a race between Goldman Sachs’ and Lehman Bros.’ preferred stock desk. “Someone said couldn’t get a clean legal opinion on it. They may have been out over their skis a little bit with their structure.””
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2012/05/where-did-the-phrase-over-his-skis-come-from.html
As in skiing, the person in question has taken a position from which they must quickly back away. Taking a position that one lacks the ability to maintain. Quite normal in skiing, but costly in other fields.
Prepositional phrase
over one's skis
- (idiomatic) Acting or speaking prematurely; getting ahead of oneself.