“I’m in over my head.”
「自分には手に負えないね。／やりきれないな。」
【例文】
・I agreed to help plan the event, but now I feel like I’m in over my head with all the details.
「イベントの企画を手伝うことにしたけど、細かいことがたくさんあって自分には手に負えない気がするよ。」
【解説・豆知識】
このフレーズは、水泳や潜水など水に関連する状況に由来すると言われています。水に潜っているときに頭よりも水が深く、立っても水面に浮かべない状況が「in over my head」となります。つまり、自分がコントロールできる範囲を超えた状況になり、困難に直面していることを表します。そのため、この表現は、自分が抱える問題や状況が手に負えないと感じたり、自分の能力を超えていると感じる時に使われます。特に、仕事、学業、人間関係など、様々な分野で適用される表現です。
【似た表現はコレだ！】
1. I’m swamped!（仕事で忙殺されている！）
・I have so many assignments and deadlines this week. I’m swamped!
⇒今週は課題や締め切りがたくさんあって、忙殺されているよ！
2. I’m drowning in work!（仕事に埋もれている！）
・I can’t go to the party tonight because I’m drowning in work.
⇒今夜のパーティーには行けない、仕事に埋もれているから。
3. I’m out of my depth!（自分の力を超えている！）
・I thought I could handle the project, but now I feel I’m out of my depth.
⇒プロジェクトをこなせると思ったけど、今は自分の力を超えている気がする。
4. I’m snowed under!（仕事で圧倒されている！）
・I’d love to join you for lunch, but I’m snowed under with reports to finish.
⇒ランチに行きたいけど、レポートで圧倒されているんだ。
5. I’m feeling overwhelmed!（圧倒されている！）
・With all the tasks piling up, I’m feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.
⇒仕事が積み重なっていて、圧倒されていてどこから手をつけたらいいかわからない。
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt completely overwhelmed and out of your depth? If so, you might have said the phrase, “I’m in over my head.” This common expression is used to describe a situation where a person has taken on more than they can handle, or where they lack the necessary skills or resources to succeed.
Origin:
The origin of the phrase “in over my head” is not entirely clear, but it likely dates back several centuries. The phrase “in over my head” may have been used as a metaphor for drowning, with the idea that a person who is out of their depth in the water will sink below the surface and struggle to stay afloat. Over time, the phrase came to be used more broadly to describe any situation where a person feels overwhelmed or in danger of failing.
Usage:
“I’m in over my head” can be used in a variety of contexts. A student struggling with a difficult assignment might say, “I’m in over my head with this project,” while a novice chess player might say, “I’m in over my head against this experienced opponent.” The phrase can also be used to describe situations that are more serious or dangerous, such as when a person takes on a job that they are not qualified for or when they become involved in criminal activity.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What does the phrase “in over my head” mean?
2. What is the likely origin of the phrase?
3. Can the phrase only be used in certain contexts? Why or why not?
4. Can “in over my head” only describe minor situations? Why or why not?
5. Give an example of a situation where someone might use the expression “in over my head”?
Answers:
1. The phrase “in over my head” is used to describe a situation where a person has taken on more than they can handle, or where they lack the necessary skills or resources to succeed.
2. The origin of the phrase is likely tied to the metaphor of drowning, where a person who is out of their depth in the water will struggle to stay afloat.
3. The phrase can be used in a variety of contexts, from more minor situations like schoolwork to more serious situations like criminal activity.
4. No, the phrase can be used to describe any situation where a person feels overwhelmed or in danger of failing.
5. Example answer: A person might say “I’m in over my head” if they try to fix their car’s engine and realize they have no idea what they are doing.
