beyond one's means



beyond one's means

Too costly for one, more than one can afford. For example, A second vacation this year is well beyond our means. The noun means here signifies "resources at one's disposal," a usage current since Shakespeare's time, as in Measure for Measure (2:2): "Let her have needful, but not lavish means." [Late 1800s]
See also: beyond, mean

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Ekaterinaye-kah-tye-REE-nah (Russian), ee-kah-tee-REE-nah (Russian)Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian
NolaNO-ləEnglish, Irish
Gulisa-Georgian
Hideakihee-de-ah-keeJapanese
Rupertaroo-PER-tahSpanish
JontyJAHN-teeEnglish (British)