beyond one's pay grade

== English == === Alternative forms === above one's pay grade === Etymology === Possibly from the correspondence of pay grade to level of authority in U.S. civil service and in the U.S. armed forces. === Pronunciation === === Prepositional phrase === beyond one's pay grade (idiomatic) Beyond one's level of authority. 1971, Testimony before U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services, Sir, I think that is a policy decision only the President can make. That is beyond my pay grade. (idiomatic) Beyond one's capability. ==== Translations ====