overjump

A gymnast overjumps the vault during a practice routine.

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To jump over or leap across something: "overjump" means to clear an obstacle or distance by jumping.
   • To skip or omit unintentionally: In a figurative sense, "overjump" can mean to pass over something, such as a step in a process or a detail in a conversation, often by mistake.
   • To strain or injure oneself by jumping: In a reflexive form ("to overjump oneself"), it means to jump so far or so forcefully that one sprains a muscle or dislocates a joint.

Usage Examples

• Literal sense:

  • The athlete attempted to overjump the high bar but failed to clear it. (He tried to jump over the bar.)
  • The dog managed to overjump the fence and escaped from the yard. (It leaped across the fence.)

• Figurative sense:

  • In his haste, he overjumped several important steps in the recipe. (He skipped or omitted them unintentionally.)

• Reflexive sense (overjump oneself):

  • During the long jump competition, he overjumped himself and pulled a muscle in his leg. (He injured himself by jumping too forcefully.)

Advanced Usage

• "to overjump a hurdle": to clear a hurdle by jumping over it, especially in track events.

  • The horse overjumped the final hurdle with ease. (It cleared the obstacle smoothly.)

• "to overjump a conclusion": a rare usage meaning to reach a conclusion prematurely, without proper reasoning.

  • He overjumped the conclusion that the project was doomed, ignoring the positive data. (He jumped to a premature judgment.)

Variants and Related Words

• Jump (v/n): the base verb meaning to push oneself off the ground using one's legs.

  • She can jump very high. (She has the ability to leap upward.)

• Overjumping (n): the act of jumping over something, or the result of such an action.

  • The overjumping of the fence required great strength. (The act of leaping across it.)

• Overjumped (adj): having been jumped over or having suffered injury from jumping.

  • His overjumped ankle was swollen after the race. (His ankle was injured from jumping.)

Synonyms

• Leap over: to spring or bound across an obstacle.

  • The cat leaped over the wall. (It jumped over it.)

• Skip: to omit or pass over something.

  • He skipped the difficult chapter. (He omitted it.)

• Overshoot: to go beyond a target or limit.

  • The jumper overshot the landing pad. (He jumped too far.)

Related Idioms

• Jump the gun: to start something too early or prematurely.

  • We overjumped the gun by announcing the results before they were confirmed. (We acted too soon.)
  • Note: This idiom is not a direct synonym for "overjump," but it shares the idea of acting hastily.

• Overstep one's bounds: to exceed what is allowed or appropriate.

  • He overjumped his authority by making decisions without consulting the team. (He overstepped his limits.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Overjump into: to rush into an action or situation without careful thought.

  • She overjumped into the new business venture without a proper plan. (She entered it hastily.)

• Overjump over: to physically leap across something.

  • The children overjumped over the puddles in the street. (They jumped across them.)