Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[missdaredevil]

You'll be* head and shoulders, leaps and bounds*, ahead of everyone else in the beginning class.

You will be doing dance moves well?

Thanks

[iitimone7]

usually in American English, head and shoulders refers to beingmuch taller than another sperson...like more more than 8 inches, or a foot...something like that. leaps and bounds refers to someone who is much more advanced academically, emotionally, etc. more than another person.

in the example, the two phrases together over-emphasizes the fact that someone will be ahead of all of the other students in class when they arrive, most likely academically.

iitimone7[/i]

[advoca]

In British English if you are head and shoulders above everyone else in your class it means that you are consdierably better than the others.

If you progress by leaps and bounds it means you progress very quickly