be above and beyond

To exceed what was expected or required. I just asked the students for a straightforward 2,000-word essay, but Sarah's was above and beyond. It included graphs, a PowerPoint presentation, and even supplemental video content. Thank you so much for your incredibly kind donation. Most people only chip in a couple dollars, so $5,000 is really above and beyond! The film explores the nuances of human pathos in a way that is above and beyond what most comedies bring to the table.