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
HamiltonHAM-il-tənEnglish
DesDEZEnglish
LijsbethLIES-bətDutch
WallaceWAWL-əsEnglish, Scottish
Idun-Norse Mythology
Francene[fræn'si:n]