over one's skis

English

Alternative forms

• out over one's skis
• in front of one's skis
• ahead of one's skis

Etymology

Per Noreen Malone’s article in the Intelligencer: “the phrase’s metaphorical use seems to have begun in the finance world. Its first non-skiing print usages came in the early nineties, in publications like Investment Dealers’ Digest. For instance, a 1991 article quoted a “market source” describing a race between Goldman Sachs’ and Lehman Bros.’ preferred stock desk. “Someone said [Lehman] couldn’t get a clean legal opinion on it. They may have been out over their skis a little bit with their structure.””

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2012/05/where-did-the-phrase-over-his-skis-come-from.html

As in skiing, the person in question has taken a position from which they must quickly back away. Taking a position that one lacks the ability to maintain. Quite normal in skiing, but costly in other fields.

Prepositional phrase

over one's skis

1. (idiomatic) Acting or speaking prematurely; getting ahead of oneself.
   • 2016 September 5, Nick Bromberg, “Jim Harbaugh: ESPN commentator ‘way out over his skis’ speculating on player suspension”, in Yahoo Sports, retrieved 13 December 2016:

     [T]he Michigan coach said Cunningham was “way out over his skis” in projecting that Lewis’ absence was due to more than a minor injury.