beyond

above and beyond something

more than. The support given to us by the police was above and beyond what we could have expected. She doesn't receive any extra money, above and beyond what she's paid by the council. The number of hours she puts into her job is definitely above and beyond the call of duty. (= more than is expected of her)

See also: above

at/in the back of beyond

in a place which is far away from other towns and difficult to get to. He lives in some tiny, remote village in the back of beyond.

See also: back

be beyond someone's ken

if a particular subject is beyond your ken, you do not understand it or know much about it. Don't talk to me about finance - it's beyond my ken. Most of Derrida's work is beyond the ken of the average student.

be beyond the pale

if someone's behaviour is beyond the pale, it is not acceptable. Her recent conduct is beyond the pale.

See also: pale

beyond your wildest dreams

far more than you could have hoped for or imagined. Twenty years later the company has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. Her books have brought her riches beyond her wildest dreams.

See also: dream, wild

beyond/without a shadow of a doubt

if something is true beyond a shadow of a doubt, there is no doubt that it is true. This is without a shadow of a doubt the best film I have seen all year.

See also: doubt, shadow, without

can't see beyond/past the end of your nose

if you can't see beyond the end of your nose, you think so much about yourself and what affects you that you do not see what is really important. These people are so busy making money, they can't see beyond the end of their nose.

See also: can't, end, nose, past, see

get/go beyond a joke

if a situation gets beyond a joke, it becomes extremely serious and worrying. He's drunk more nights than he's sober these days - this has gone beyond a joke.

See also: joke

go beyond the pale

be beyond the pale - if someone's behaviour is beyond the pale, it is not acceptable. His behaviour at the meeting was going beyond the pale.

See also: pale

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above and beyond something

more than or in addition to something. She has things she wants to accomplish above and beyond another championship. Our products are manufactured under the strictest guidelines, above and beyond what government regulations require.

(above and) beyond the call of duty

See also: above

beyond your means

too expensive for you. We bought a retirement home, but at first the repair work was beyond our means.

within your means

See also: mean

beyond measure

to an extremely high degree. Our religious faith improved our lives beyond measure.

See also: measure

beyond question

not in doubt. His personal courage was beyond question.

See also: question

beyond reproach

not to be criticized. These were men of outstanding character who were beyond reproach.

(above and) beyond the call of duty

much more than should be expected. If your waiter goes beyond the call of duty, leave a bigger tip.

above and beyond something

Etymology: first used about police officers, fire fighters, or soldiers who were injured or killed while doing their jobs

See also: call, duty

beyond the pale

not acceptable to most people. For most people, a discussion like this has been simply beyond the pale.

Etymology: based on a past meaning of pale (= an area in Ireland, Scotland, or France controlled by England), and the idea that places outside this area were dangerous for the English

See also: pale

beyond the shadow of a doubt

so that it is obviously true. Letters in her father's own handwriting would prove his guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt.

See also: doubt, shadow

something is beyond me

this is impossible to understand. How they thought they could come in and out without anyone noticing is beyond me.