The actor tends to chew the scenery in every movie.
chew the scenery
idiomTo display excessive emotion or to act in an exaggerated manner while performing; to be melodramatic; to be flamboyant.
Origin
first recorded 19th c.Its earliest reference is listed in the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang as being used by Mary Hallock Foote in Coeur D'Alene in 1894.http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20001024
The director told the lead actor to stop chewing the scenery and act more naturally.
While the play was well-written, the lead performer chose to chew the scenery, turning a subtle drama into an exhausting display of melodrama.
- 01
bite off more than one can chew
To try to do too much; to take on or attempt more than one is capable of doing.
- 02
change of scenery
A movement from one location to another.
- 03
chew off
To reprimand, to scold
- 04
chew on
To consider, to ponder.
- 05
chew the cud
To meditate or ponder before answering; to be deep in thought; to ruminate.
- 06
chew the meat and spit out the bones
To take in a great deal of information and selectively disregard some of it as invalid or inapplicable.
- 07
chew up
To ruin (especially land), by digging.
- 08
walk and chew gum at the same time
To do two normally trivial tasks at the same time; to exhibit basic competence or task-management skills.