go overboard


go overboard

1. Literally, to fall off of a boat. Be careful standing so close to the edge—we don't want anyone to go overboard!2. To act without restraint in some area. Did I go overboard with the Christmas decorations? I'm worried I bought enough Christmas lights to light up Times Square.See also: go, overboard

go overboard

 1. Fig. to fall out of a boat or off of a ship; to fall overboard. Be careful or you will go overboard. Someone went overboard in the fog. 2. Fig. to do too much; to be extravagant. Look, Sally, let's have a nice party, but don't go overboard. It doesn't need to be fancy. Okay, you can buy a big comfortable car, but don't go overboard on price.See also: go, overboard

go overboard

Show excessive enthusiasm, act in an excessive way. For example, It's easy to go overboard with a new stock offering, or She really went overboard, hiring the most expensive caterer. [Mid-1900s] See also: go, overboard

go overboard

1 be highly enthusiastic. 2 behave immoderately; go too far. The idea behind this idiom is that of recklessly jumping over the side of a ship into the water.See also: go, overboard

go ˈoverboard (about/for somebody/something)

(informal) be too excited or enthusiastic about something or about doing something: I told her just to cook a simple meal but she went completely overboard. ♢ He doesn’t just like her. He’s gone completely overboard about her.See also: go, overboard

go overboard

in. to do far more than is necessary. Now don’t go overboard for us. We’re just folks. See also: go, overboard

go overboard

To go to extremes, especially as a result of enthusiasm.See also: go, overboard

go overboard, to

To go to extremes; to overreact, especially in favor of something or someone. This expression, which conjures up the extreme act of jumping or falling off a ship, dates from the first half of the twentieth century. For a time it signified living beyond one’s means, but that meaning is no longer current. John P. Marquand used the term in its contemporary sense (Melville Goodwin, 1951): “Did you ever hear about General Goodwin going overboard over an American girl in Paris?”See also: go