“Jumping” over a person’s position who is of higher rank

It sounds as though such a person is about to leapfrog over his superior and land a corporate position in which his erstwhile superior/boss has now become his subordinate or underling.

leapfrog: to go straight from a job or position that was lower in status than someone's to one that is higher than theirs (Macmillan Dictionary).


I would describe this as "leap-frogging."

"Leap-frog" is a childhood game.

  1. A boys' game in which one player places his hands upon the bent back or shoulders of another and leaps or vaults over him. Also, a jump or leap of this description. (OED)

Merriam-Webster has a better example of this metaphorical usage:

Skipping his last two years of high school, he leapfrogged his classmates and went to college.


I would simply say "I was promoted above my boss."

You can say the same thing for any promotion, really. "I was promoted above my co-workers" for a single step up. The reference to "my boss" implies that you've moved up two steps rather than just one, and that your former boss is now your subordinate.