overdov.
/ˌəʊvəˈduː/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈdu/ΘΚΠ
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)]
overdoOE
adreeOE
wreaka1300
to draw forthc1300
dispend1340
pass1340
drivea1375
wastec1381
occupyc1384
overpassa1387
to pass over ——a1393
usec1400
spend1423
contrive?a1475
overdrive1487
consumea1500
to pass forth1509
to drive off1517
lead1523
to ride out1529
to wear out, forth1530
to pass away?1550
to put offc1550
shiftc1562
to tire out1563
wear1567
to drive out1570
entertainc1570
expire1589
tire1589
outwear1590
to see out1590
outrun1592
outgo1595
overshoot1597
to pass out1603
fleeta1616
elapse1654
term1654
trickle1657
to put over1679
absorb1686
spin1696
exercise1711
kill1728
to get through ——1748
to get over ——1751
tickc1870
fill1875
OE (Northumbrian) Liturgical Texts (Durham Ritual) in A. H. Thompson & U. Lindelöf Rituale Ecclesiae Dunelmensis (1927) 36 Transacto noctis spatio : oferdoene..næhtes rune.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Ecclus. xxxviii. 28 Eche smyþ..þe whiche þe nyȝt as þe dai ouerdoþ [a1425 L.V. passith; L. transigit].
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) 2 Kings xi. 27 Þe wijf of vrie herde þat vrie hir husbonde was dead, & sche weilede hym, & þe weilynge ouer don [a1425 Corpus Oxf. ouere doon; a1425 L.V. was passid; L. Transacto], dauiþ sente & brouȝte hir in to his hous.
2.
a. transitive. Of behaviour, an action, etc.: to do to excess or too much; to carry to excess; to perform or carry out in an exaggerated or extravagant manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > lack of moderation or restraint > do excessively [verb (transitive)]
overdoOE
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > do (something) to excess [verb (transitive)]
overdoOE
to carry (something) to extremes (also to excess, too far, etc.)a1631
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > exaggerate [verb (transitive)] > in action
overdoOE
overacta1640
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > outdo or surpass [verb (transitive)] > go beyond (bounds) > overdo or do to excess
overdoOE
overlay1836
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxxvi. 306 Þonne sceal his steor beon mid lufe gemetegod, na mid wælhreawnysse oferdon.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 211 Vh þing þach me mei ouerdon [a1300 Caius ower don]. best is eauer mete.
c1395 G. Chaucer Canon's Yeoman's Tale 645 He is to wys in feith as I bileue; That that is ouerdoon [v.rr. ouerdone, ouere done], it wol nat preue Aright, as clerkes seyn; it is a vice.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iii. ii. 20 Any thing so ore-doone, is from the purpose of playing. View more context for this quotation
1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes ii. 121 He may either overdoe, and give too much,..or he may underdoe and give too little.
a1770 J. Jortin Serm. (1771) I. v. 87 A disposition and behaviour which may be overdone as well as underdone.
1869 A. Trollope Phineas Finn li You overdo your anxiety on such a subject.
1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Ess. 1st Ser. iv. 106 With the zeal of a new convert he overdid matters.
1927 C. E. Russell Amer. Orchestra ix. 169 Mr. Thomas had overdone his job.
1942 A. S. Forbes & H. R. Allen Ten Fighter Boys p. xv What he obviously intended to do on..was to flick over and spin down, but being a little ham, he overdid the manoeuvre.
1998 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 15 Jan. 48/2 It is an excellent stroke that Caliste, having refused to become William's lover in the physical sense, falls to pieces, begins to overdo all her reactions.
b. intransitive. To do a thing too much or to too great an extent; to go to excess; to exceed the proper limit.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > lack of moderation or restraint > act immoderately or without restraint [verb (intransitive)]
overdoa1325
outragea1387
surfeitc1400
outraya1450
exceed1488
lasha1560
overlash1579
overlaunch1579
wanton1631
extravagate1829
wallow1876
to hit the high spots1891
to go overboard1931
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > be excessive [verb (intransitive)]
overdoa1325
exceed1488
to pass, be above or beyond, God's forbodec1540
overreacha1568
overlaunch1579
overact1611
overboil1611
to overstep the mark (also line)1827
to cut it too fat1836
to break bounds1856
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > exaggeration, hyperbole > exaggerate [verb (intransitive)] > in action
overdoa1325
to break to an extreme1592
overact1631
to fly high (or a high pitch)1655
outgrabe1855
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > outdo or surpass [verb (intransitive)] > go beyond bounds > go too far
overdoa1325
outreacha1400
overreacha1568
to overshoot the mark1583
to shoot over1605
overact1611
to outrun the constable1631
to overstep the mark (also line)1827
a1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesworth (Arun.) (1857) 152 (MED) Homme parle, homme braye, Saun resoun sovent se deraye [glossed] overdoot.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1879) VII. 317 (MED) But he passede and over dede in gadringe of money of the people.
a1450 Pater Noster Richard Ermyte (Westm. Sch. 3) (1967) 14 (MED) For fals preisyng of þis world to wynnen..proude & noble men ouerdon.
1539 R. Taverner tr. Erasmus Prouerbes sig. C.iiijv Some can not do but they ouer do.
1657 W. Rand tr. P. Gassendi Mirrour of Nobility i. 12 Wherein I conceive he overdid.
1708 T. Baker Fine Lady's Airs i. 11 To overdo at first, is to undo at last.
1798 J. O'Keeffe Blacksmith of Antwerp i. iii. 394 He is always ready too soon, or he is not ready at all; he underdoes, or he overdoes.
1890 Universal Rev. 15 June 214 He overdoes in both the burnt-sienna glow of the ‘Venetian’ hair and the unctuosity of the body-colour.
1984 J. Updike Hugging the Shore (1986) 277 Her ease of invention sometimes leads her to overdo.
2001 B. Dibra & E. Randolph CatSpeak viii. 154 A food treat can be a reward in addition to praise. However, you have to be somewhat careful not to overdo.
c. transitive. To emphasize unduly, make too much of; to carry (an argument, joke, etc.) too far.
ΚΠ
1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. v. 119 Well, sir—you overdo the matter. But Winslow—let me know the truth of him. Is he or is he not, a blockhead?
1847 L. Hunt Men, Women, & Bks. I. xiii. 217 Don't you see that it overdoes your argument?
1875 J. R. Green Lett. (1901) 403 I wish he didn't overdo his case.
1924 P. G. Wodehouse Bill the Conqueror 67 Judson's view began to be that, while a joke was a joke and he as fond of a laugh as anyone, there was such a thing as over-doing a jest, running it to death.
1955 Times 13 Aug. 5/5 Its Communist sponsors were at pains not to overdo ideological propaganda.
1990 M. Freeland Kenneth Williams (BNC) 152 We didn't overdo or over emphasize Ken's neuterism.
d. transitive. To overindulge in or have too much of (a food, drink, etc.); to use to much of.
ΚΠ
1979 Business Week (Nexis) 7 May 16 Many of the pilots also overdid the booze and brothels.
1988 E. Feinstein Mother's Girl v. 102 I began to shiver... ‘Doesn't overdo the heating, does he?’
1993 Today's Parent Feb.–Mar. 47/1 Be careful not to overdo the vitamin D: remember that the recommended daily dose is 400 IU.
2002 Sunday Tel. (Nexis) 24 Nov. 24 When making a margarita, don't overdo the salt.
3. transitive. To surpass or exceed in performance; to outdo, excel. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > outdo or surpass [verb (transitive)]
overstyeOE
overshinec1175
overgoc1225
passc1225
surmountc1369
forpassc1374
overmatcha1375
overpassa1382
to pass overa1393
overcomec1400
outpass?a1425
exceedc1425
precedec1425
superexcelc1429
transcendc1430
precel?a1439
outcut1447
overgrowc1475
to come over ——a1479
excel1493
overleapa1500
vanquish1533
outweigh1534
prevent1540
better1548
preferc1550
outgo1553
surpassa1555
exsuperate1559
cote1566
overtop1567
outrun1575
outstrip1579
outsail1580
overruna1586
pre-excel1587
outbid1589
outbrave1589
out-cote1589
top1590
outmatch1593
outvie1594
superate1595
surbravec1600
oversile1608
over-height1611
overstride1614
outdoa1616
outlustrea1616
outpeera1616
outstrikea1616
outrival1622
antecede1624
out-top1624
antecell1625
out-pitch1627
over-merit1629
outblazea1634
surmatch1636
overdoa1640
overact1643
outact1644
worst1646
overspana1657
outsoar1674
outdazzle1691
to cut down1713
ding1724
to cut out1738
cap1821
by-pass1848
overtower1850
pretergress1851
outray1876
outreach1879
cut1884
outperform1937
outrate1955
one-up1963
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > outdo or surpass [verb (transitive)] > go beyond (bounds) > carry too far
overcarry1606
overdoa1640
to run into the ground1836
a1640 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Double Marriage iv. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Eeee4/1 Are you she That overdid all ages, with your honour?
a1658 J. Cleveland Rustick Rampant in Wks. (1687) 392 One who could overdo all Men in Dissembling.
1762 D. Garrick Let. Jan. (1963) I. 353 He..offered to destroy the plate..for he declared that he would not be overdone in kindness.
1859 Ld. Tennyson Elaine in Idylls of King 171 Wrathful that a stranger knight Should do and almost overdo the deeds Of Lancelot.
1987 Handgunner July 9/1 Federal responded to the challenge by honking their 125-grain up to 1,450 fps, while Winchester, not to be overdone, throttled theirs up close to 1,500 honest feet per second.
4. transitive. To cook (food, a dish) for too long.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > cooking > cook [verb (transitive)] > overcook
overdo1683
overcook1850
grizzle1900
1683 T. Tryon Way to Health 111 That it [sc. roast flesh] be neither over nor under-done, but of the two, it is better that it be under-done.
1832 E. Bulwer-Lytton Eugene Aram II. iv. iii. 238 Julia, my dear, I trust the chickens will not be overdone.
1850 R. Bell Ladder of Gold I. i. iii. 55 He was a small thread of a man, with the aspect of one who had been baked in an oven and overdone.
1894 Westm. Gaz. 1 Jan. 7/2 An adept at underdoing the meat and overdoing the potatoes.
1978 M. Jevons Murder at Margin iv. 27 It was his belief that bacon should not be overdone, as tested by its translucency.
1997 San Antonio (Texas) Express-News (Nexis) 22 Jan. 2 c You can cook pork loin, venison or beef brisket the same way, just don't overdo the venison or underdo the pork.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > outdoing or surpassing > outdo or surpass [verb (intransitive)] > do more than is demanded, required, or adequate
supererogate1573
overdo1710
1710 H. Prideaux Orig. & Right Tithes i. 7 In large Towns..this provision of a Tenth part will not do; and in other places..it will over-do.
6. transitive (chiefly reflexive and passive). To overtax the strength of; to fatigue, exhaust, wear out; to overwhelm. Frequently with with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > weary or exhaust [verb (transitive)]
wearyc897
tirea1000
travailc1300
forwearya1325
taryc1375
tarc1440
matec1450
break1483
labour1496
overwearya1500
wear?1507
to wear out, forth1525
fatigate1535
stress1540
overtire1558
forwaste1563
to tire out1563
overwear1578
spend1582
out-tire1596
outwear1596
outweary1596
overspend1596
to toil out1596
attediate1603
bejade1620
lassate1623
harassa1626
overtask1628
tax1672
hag1674
trash1685
hatter1687
overtax1692
fatigue1693
to knock up1740
tire to death1740
overfatigue1741
fag1774
outdo1776
to do over1789
to use up1790
jade1798
overdo1817
frazzlea1825
worry1828
to sew up1837
to wear to death1840
to take it (also a lot, too much, etc.) out of (a person)1847
gruel1850
to stump up1853
exhaust1860
finish1864
peter1869
knacker1886
grind1887
tew1893
crease1925
poop1931
raddle1951
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > weary or exhaust [verb (reflexive)]
strain1377
overwork1530
overtire1558
toil1560
spend1594
overtask1628
waste1630
unbowel1647
to run off one's legs (also feet)1666
overexert1817
muck1819
tew1825
overdo1858
to burn out, forth1955
1652 W. Blith Eng. Improver Improved 107 And for some other men when they finde so great profit, come in upon them by this or any other meanes, they out of a thirsty desire of gain will Over-doe, Over-Plough, and so destroy their Land.]
1817 M. Whalley Let. 23 Apr. in J. Constable Corr. (1962) I. 164 I trust however that your Darling is better than when you wrote, & was not overdone with company yesterday.
1858 S. Wilberforce in R. G. Wilberforce Life S. Wilberforce (1881) II. xi. 385 At night ran down too fast, and overdid myself.
1889 Harper's Mag. July 242/2 Are there five boys..who can run half a mile, in even three minutes and a half, without being badly blown and looking as if they had been overdoing themselves?
1916 A. Bennett Lion's Share vii. 52 A raw girl, overdone with money, who could only speak one language.
1972 in Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. (1983) lxx. 45 Her disease appears to have been caused by being overdone with work.
1999 Racing Post (Nexis) 5 July 9 She lengthened well, without overdoing herself, finishing a length and a half to the good.
Phrases
to overdo it (also to overdo things)
a. To carry a matter or matters too far; to do something too much, too often, or in an exaggerated fashion (cf. sense 2a).
ΚΠ
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. xiv. 191 Noone so ofte sorfeten soþliche so mankynde..Thei ouerdon hit day and nyght.
1638 W. Chillingworth Relig. Protestants i. vi. §73. 381 Often what he took in hand, he did not doe it but over doe it.
1702 W. Burnaby Modish Husband v. 60 Cam. My bright Charmer, let me devour you with Kisses. L. P. (Aside) O! the devil! She'll overdo it and Ruine all.
1838 C. Dickens Oliver Twist I. xvi. 264 ‘Ha! ha! my dear, you are acting beautifully.’ ‘Am I?’ said the girl. ‘Take care I don't overdo it: you will be the worse for it, Fagin.’
a1852 G. H. Rodwell Freaks & Follies (1888) i. iii. 5 There's no harm in swaggering, unless you overdo it.
1927 A. Conan Doyle Case-bk. Sherlock Holmes 202 In her anxiety that it [sc. the note] should be discovered she somewhat overdid it, by holding it in her hand to the last.
1951 M. Culver in H. Brickell O. Henry Prize Stories of 1951 89 Bump Roxy was a great drummer and a great musician. He told them when they overdid it or underdid it... He held the band together.
1991 Photographer Sept. 20/3 There is a great tendency to show how ‘clever’ you can be with any new gizmo, and, in the process, overdo things.
b. To do more than is good for one's health; to exhaust oneself through work or overexertion (cf. sense 6).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > weariness or exhaustion > become weary or exhausted [verb (intransitive)] > exhaust one's strength or energy
to break one's back or necka1616
to melt one's grease1645
break1726
to run out of steam1836
to overdo it1853
to peg out1887
1853 J. Ruskin Let. 18 Aug. in M. Lutyens Millais & Ruskins (1967) 85 He overdid it last winter and now evidently stands in need of rest.
1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xxxviii. 424 ‘You'll kill yourself.’ ‘Not a bit of it... I'm not going to overdo things.’
1920 N. Coward I'll leave it to You ii. 24 You work terribly hard. I only hope you won't overdo it.
1993 J. Evans Dangerous Diagnosis 108 ‘You're not overdoing things?’ ‘Probably, but I want to make the most of every minute.’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
> see also
also refers to : † over-doadj.
<
v.OEsee also
- reassigned
- reassigning
- reassignment
- reassignments
- reassigns
- reassimilate
- reassimilation
- reassociate
- reassociated
- reassociates
- reassociating
- reassociation
- reassort
- reassortant
- reassorted
- reassorting
- reassortment
- reassorts
- reassume
- reassume oneself
- reassumed
- reassumes
- reassuming
- reassumpt
- reassumption