Word Verb
overdo
v.
C1 Advanced US /ˈoʊvɝˈdu/ UK /ˌəʊvədˈuː/ over·do UK spelling overdoes
Definition
v.to do something too much or in a way that is too intense. You use this when you think someone is making a big deal out of a small problem.
v.to perform an action to an excessive or unnecessary degree; to exaggerate the significance of a situation. Often used in the passive voice to describe a reaction that is overly dramatic.
Examples
“He is overdoing the whole situation.”
“The manager was overdoing the apology by sending a dozen flowers to every employee.”
“The film's director was accused of overdoing the horror elements, resulting in a final product that felt more like a scream than a story.”
Etymology
From Middle English overdon, from Old English oferdōn, equivalent to over- + do.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Old English oferdōn
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated