What does it mean "your reputation precedes you"?

Question

what does it mean?

Answer 1

People have heard about you and your deeds your...ummmm reputation--the type of person you are, or appear to be.  So, they've heard about you and know things about you before they've even met you.

Answer 2

"Reputation" is the things you've done in the past. If you have a good reputation, people know you to be someone who does good things. If you have a bad reputation, people know you've been a troublemaker in the past. Usually people assume that, if you have a bad reputation, you are still a person who does bad things. (Interesting.)

So, by saying "Your reputation precedes you," you're saying "I heard what kind of person you were, even before you physically got here." It's usually a bad thing, since bad reputations are gossiped about (not good ones).

Answer 3

It means, what people have heard about you will be a factor in what they think about you when they meet you.  Sometimes, no matter what you do or say will change their preconceptions that they have about you that are based upon your reputation.

Answer 4

It means that the things in life that you have done (whether good or bad) that people hear about cause them to judge you even before they meet you.

Answer 5

It means "I heard about you before I met you." It generally suggests that the person has a reputation in his or her field that makes them well-known and respected.