go overboard
Meaning(s)
1. to do something to excess or to be overly enthusiastic
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
Don't go overboard with dinner, there are only two of us
Analysis
When you 'go overboard' you go 'over the top', or do more than is necessary to complete the task or goal. It is an informal expression usually used in a humorous or negative context to express a waste of resources or energy. Related to the adjective 'overkill' and 'over the top'.
Social Examples (Basic)
- I think I went overboard with this dessert. It could feed a whole football team.
- Please don't go overboard when I come to stay. I don't expect much.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- Be careful not to go overboard with the explanation. We don't want to appear patronising.
- We have gone way overboard with our spending. We need to rein in our expenses.