overdo

overdo — verb

1. to pass a sensible limit in what you do, use, or say, so the effect becomes too

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveC1
Definition

to pass a sensible limit in what you do, use, or say, so the effect becomes too strong, too much, or less believable.

Example

Jonas overdid the garlic, and the soup tasted too strong.

pattern: overdo + ingredient

For the school play, Nina overdid her makeup and looked much older.

pattern: overdo + makeup

Common collocations
  • overdo the garlic
  • overdo your makeup
  • overdo the praise
  • overdo the decorations
  • overdo it
Synonyms
  • exaggerate

    best when facts, feelings, or effects are made bigger than they really are

  • overstate

    more formal and especially used for claims, risks, or numbers

  • overuse

    narrower, only about using something too often or too much

  • go too far

    informal and broad, often judging behavior in general

Antonyms
  • hold back

    to stay controlled and avoid doing too much

  • understate

    to make something seem smaller or less serious than it is

Grammar Patterns

overdo + food/detail/praise

overdo it / overdo things

Usage Note

Often takes an object naming food, decoration, praise, or emotion. When the exact action is obvious from context, speakers also use overdo it or sometimes overdo on its own.

Common Mistakes

Nina overdid in her makeup for the play.
Nina overdid her makeup for the play.
'overdo' usually takes a direct object, not 'in'.
Don't overdo at the gym.
Don't overdo it at the gym.
when no object is named, English usually adds 'it'.
Idioms

overdo it/things

idiom

To work, study, or exercise too much, causing tiredness or harm.

Maya overdid it at the gym and now her legs hurt.

Did Brian overdo things again by studying all night?

Word family

  • overdone
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Overdo is a broad everyday verb for pushing something past a reasonable limit. It can describe actions, style, effort, or the way a problem is presented. Exaggerate is closest when the speaker makes facts, feelings, or effects seem bigger than they are. Overstate is more formal and is common in reports, debate, and public claims. Overuse is narrower: it only means using something too often or in too large an amount. Go too far is informal and often judges behavior rather than a specific detail. Compare: Nina overdid her stage makeup. The article overstated the danger. We overused red paint on the poster.

overdo ↗exaggerate ↗overstate ↗overusego too far

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Overdo joins over with do. Both parts go back to Old English, and the compound developed in Middle English with the idea of doing more than is fitting or needed. From that basic meaning, English later used it for using too much of something and for making an effect or problem seem stronger than it really is.