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to outkick one's coverage

to outkick one's coverage

9.6
To get someone or something better than you deserve
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : superar las expectativas
  • He managed to outkick his coverage with that impressive performance!

Examples

  • Many said he outkicked his coverage by landing such a prestigious job straight out of college.

  • Everyone agrees that Sarah outkicked her coverage when she married someone so accomplished.

  • If you get into that university, you'll definitely have outkicked your coverage.

  • Did she really outkick her coverage during the competition?

  • The startup was able to outkick its coverage by attracting a large investment despite being new to the market.

  • He really outkicked his coverage when he landed that promotion, considering his limited experience.

  • With her impressive performance, she outkicked her coverage and secured the lead role in the film.

Synonyms

to outsmart
vsto outkick one's coverage
54 4.1

To get an advantage over someone by being clever

focuses on unexpected success relative to circumstances, not only cleverness
to outperform
vsto outkick one's coverage
30 4.8

Do better than someone or something

specifically stresses exceeding what was expected from the circumstances
to outdo
vsto outkick one's coverage
22 3.8

Be better than someone at something

adds the nuance of surprising success given limited standing or ability
to crush it
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Informal
15 7.9

Do very well in a competition or challenge

leans more on unexpected advantage relative to circumstances rather than general excellence
to outshine
vsto outkick one's coverage
15 4.8

Do better and get more attention than others

focuses on outperforming expectations rather than attracting attention
to outmaneuver
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • US
15 7.7

Gain an advantage over someone by using skill or clever plans

is about exceeding expectations broadly, not only by strategic skill
to outclass
vsto outkick one's coverage
8 4.6

To be much better than someone or something

instead highlights doing better than expected relative to one's situation
to outmatch
vsto outkick one's coverage
8 6.4

Do better than someone in skill or performance

suggests doing better than expected given limited circumstances rather than pure superiority
to outstrip
vsto outkick one's coverage
7 6.8

To become faster, better, or larger than another

emphasizes exceeding expectations tied to status or abilities rather than mere lead
to outflank
vsto outkick one's coverage
4 7.0

To gain an advantage over someone by using clever or unexpected actions

relies more on surprising overall success given weak initial position
to beat (someone) at (their) own game
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Informal
3 5.3

To defeat someone by using their own methods

is about beating expectations given poor odds rather than using their tactics
to outgain
vsto outkick one's coverage
2 6.7

To gain more than someone else, especially in a competition

is about surprising achievement beyond predicted results, not just numeric gain
to outcompete
vsto outkick one's coverage
2 6.1

To do better than someone or something and win

adds the idea of surprising success relative to one's usual position
to overachieve
vsto outkick one's coverage
1 5.3

To do better than people expect and have more success

emphasizes surprising success relative to usual expectations
to get one up on
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Informal
1 6.1

To have an advantage over someone in competition

adds the sense of succeeding beyond what circumstances or status predicted
to punch above one's weight
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Informal
1 7.4

To have more success than people expect from your size or ability

focuses on exceeding expectations specifically because of low status or resources
to hit one out of the ballpark
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Informal
1 7.4

Do much better than expected

is similar but stresses doing better than predicted rather than sheer brilliance
to blow the doors off
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Informal
1 7.2

To do much better than people expect

is about better-than-expected results but not necessarily dramatic showmanship
to kick some tail
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Slang
1 8.8

Beat someone by a lot

stresses surprising success relative to background rather than sheer aggression
to outkick coverage
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Informal
9.6

To get more success or a better partner than you deserve

has the same idea but uses a different possessive phrasing
to knock out of the box
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Informal
8.0

To impress many people by doing something very well

highlights doing better than expected without focusing on showy impact
to blow the pants off
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Informal
8.8

To make someone very impressed or be much better than something

focuses more narrowly on outperforming what circumstances predicted
to outvie
vsto outkick one's coverage
  • Archaic
9.9

To try to be better than someone in a contest or task

focuses on unexpected success relative to background rather than active rivalry
to outstand
vsto outkick one's coverage
7.6

To be better than others in skill or quality

frames superiority as surprising relative to the person's usual standing
to outdazzle
vsto outkick one's coverage
7.5

To impress people more than others

centers on exceeding expectations in outcome rather than mere brilliance

Antonyms

to underperform
20 5.3

To do worse than expected or needed

How Successful

to excel
58 3.7
to outperform
30 4.8
to outkick one's coverage
  • Informal
9.6
to do well
520 1.2
to measure up
  • Informal
39 3.7
to fail
898 1.0

Surface Forms

outkick one's coverage infinitive
outkicked one's coverage past
outkicked one's coverage past participle
outkicking one's coverage present participle
outkick one's coverages third person singular

Morphology

outkick + one + coverage

The phrase builds on a literal sports image — 'outkick' (kick farther/more effectively) plus 'coverage' (the players or scope covering the kick) — so a learner who knows the constituents can grasp the basic idea of outperforming or going beyond what others cover. However, the usage is metaphorical/sports-specific and encodes a particular nuance (doing better than one’s expected support/resources), which is not fully predictable for a B1 learner without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Outkick one's coverage comes from American football: when a kicker outkicks the coverage, the ball goes so far that the players who should reach it cannot get there. So the phrase now means 'to do better than people expect' or 'to get more than your situation seems to allow'.