THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Head and shoulders above
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Much better than the people or things being compared.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- For sound quality, these headphones are head and shoulders above my old pair.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
For sound quality, these headphones are ________ my old pair.
Show the answer
Head and shoulders above — Much better than the people or things being compared.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Head and shoulders above” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
Much better than the people or things being compared.
Compare: For sound quality, these headphones are head and shoulders above my old pair.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this expression to praise a clear difference in quality or ability. It is a strong comparison, suitable for conversation and reviews when you can support your opinion.
More examples in context
- Her clear explanation was head and shoulders above the others.
- This year’s performance was head and shoulders above last year’s.
Usage note
Keep “head” singular and “shoulders” plural. Add what is being compared after “above”, unless the context supplies it. The idiom concerns quality, rather than physical height.
A short conversation
A: Which design should we choose?
B: The blue one is head and shoulders above the others for readability.
A: Let’s test it with a few readers.
One more practice question
If one translation is head and shoulders above the others, how does it compare?
A. It is exactly equal in quality.
B. It is much better.
Check your answer
B. The expression indicates a substantial advantage in quality.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.