overact

/'ouvər'ækt/

Thân thiện

The actor was told not to overact during the emotional scene.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To act in an exaggerated or overly theatrical manner, especially on stage or in a performance, beyond what is natural or appropriate for the role.

Usage

• Verb: Typically used to describe an actor's performance that is perceived as excessive, lacking subtlety, or overly dramatic. It often carries a negative connotation, suggesting the performance is not believable.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The director told the actor not to overact in the emotional scene, as subtlety would be more powerful.
  • In amateur theater, actors sometimes overact because they are nervous.
  • Her tendency to overact made the comedy feel forced and unnatural.

Advanced Usage

• "to overact one's part": To perform one's role with excessive theatricality.
  • He overacted his part so much that he became the unintentional comic relief of the tragedy.

Variants and Related Words

• Overacting (n): The act or instance of performing in an exaggerated manner.

  • The film critic panned the movie for its overacting and melodramatic dialogue.

• Overactor (n): A person who habitually or in a specific instance acts in an exaggerated way.

  • He was known in the troupe as a bit of an overactor, always seeking the spotlight.

Synonyms

• Ham it up (idiom): To act in an exaggerated or showy manner, often for comic effect.
• Emote excessively: To display emotion in an overstated way.

Antonyms

• Underact (v): To act with too little emotional expression or force; to perform in an overly restrained manner.

Related Phrases

• Chew the scenery (idiom): To overact dramatically and flamboyantly. This phrase vividly describes very excessive theatrical acting.
  • The veteran actor didn't just act; he chewed the scenery in every scene he was in.

Học thuật

Verb

1. exaggerate one's acting

Từ đồng nghĩa

• ham it up
• ham
• overplay