Out of My League – Meaning, Origin & Usage
Ever wondered what is meant by the phrase “out of my league”? This article is going to tell you. We will also cover the origins and usage of the term, using a few examples.
And without further ado, et’s get straight to it!
What does the phrase “out of my league” mean?
The phrase “out of my league” is used as a way of describing someone who is on a completely different level to you.
The phrase is primarily used in a romantic context to refer to a desirable person who is perceived as being unattainable. However the phrase can be used in other contexts such as skill level or social standing.
The historical origins of the phrase “out of my league”
The phrase “out of my league” is derived from the concept of a “league” in sports, where teams are placed into groups based on their skill level. For a team to be on equal footing, they would have to be in the same league. Similarly, if a team is “out of your league” this would mean that they aren’t on an equal footing. The term “out of my league” has been in use in this sense for a very long time.
(The term league was once a unit of measurement for distance, and one league was considered to be quite a far off destination.)
Over time the same phrase came to be used in other contexts besides sports. For instance, in a social context, it usually refers to someone being considered too attractive, successful, wealthy, or desirable for you to realistically pursue.
The earliest known written use of the phrase “out of my league” in a romantic context was Wait for Tomorrow by Robert Wilder.
How to use the phrase correctly, with examples
The phrase “out of my league” is most often used in a romantic context, to refer to a romantic interest that is perceived as unattainable because they are not “on the same level” or are on unequal footing.
However, the term can also be used in other contexts such as skill level or social standing.
Here are some examples of the phrase in use:
- I can’t believe she asked me out, she’s so beautiful, she’s totally out of my league.
- We can’t go up against them in a game, they’re out of our league.
- I won’t argue with you, since you’re out of my league.
- He’s amazing – I’d love to ask him out but I think he’s way out of my league.
Final word
So, the phrase “out of my league” is used as a way of describing someone who is on a completely different level to you. It is most often used in a romantic context, though it can also be used in other contexts as well, such as in sport and games.
The precise origin of the phrase in a sports context is not known, but it appears that its figurative use in a romantic context dates back to at least 1950.
