Definition

1. Verb:
   • To do, perform, or carry out something to an excessive or exaggerated degree: To go beyond a normal, reasonable, or appropriate limit in an action or effort.
   • To exaggerate in expression or manner: To make something seem more important or dramatic than it is, often resulting in a loss of effectiveness.
   • To cook for too long: To cook something beyond the desired point, making it too soft or otherwise ruined.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • He tends to overdo the decorations for every party. (He tends to use excessive decorations.)
  • She didn't want to overdo her criticism and seem harsh. (She didn't want to express criticism too strongly.)
  • If you overdo the pasta, it will become mushy. (If you cook the pasta too long, it will become soft and formless.)

Advanced Usage

• "to overdo it": To exert oneself too much physically or to do something to an excessive degree, often leading to exhaustion or negative consequences.
  • I overdid it at the gym yesterday and now my muscles are very sore.
• "to overdo things": A general phrase for engaging in multiple activities or a single activity to an excessive extent.
  • After his illness, he was careful not to overdo things.

Variants and Related Words

• Overdid: Simple past tense of 'overdo'.
  • She overdid the salt in the soup.
• Overdone: Past participle of 'overdo'. Also used as an adjective meaning or .
  • The roast was overdone and very dry. (Adjective)
  • The praise for his minor role was completely overdone. (Adjective)
• Overdoes: Third person singular present tense.
  • He always overdoes the special effects in his movies.

Synonyms

• Exaggerate: To represent something as being larger, better, or worse than it really is.
• Overindulge: To have too much of something enjoyable, like food or drink.
• Overuse: To use something too much or too often.
• Go overboard: To do something in an excessive or extreme way (idiomatic).

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: 'Overdo' itself is not typically used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. The common constructions are "overdo it" or "overdo things," which are idiomatic uses of the verb with an object.)

Related Idioms

• "Don't overdo it": A common piece of advice meaning "don't do too much" or "don't exaggerate."
  • You've been working for ten hours straight. Don't overdo it.
• "Nothing overdone": A phrase suggesting moderation, that nothing is excessive.
  • The wedding was elegant and simple, with nothing overdone.

Verb

1. do something to an excessive degree
   • He overdid it last night when he did 100 pushups