boring in the extreme

Extremely boring. That film was boring in the extreme—it actually put me to sleep in the theater! You need to liven up your speech, or your audience is going to find it boring in the extreme! If you ask me, politics is just boring in the extreme.

carry (something) to extremes

To do something in an excessive or overzealous manner. With the way Phil keeps bossing us around, he's really carrying his title of "interim manager" to extremes. All I asked was if you'd seen my charging cord—you chose to carry it to extremes and scour your whole house for it. A: "The other team has legit uniforms and full gear." B: "I don't understand when people carry their rec league teams to extremes like that."

from one extreme to the other

From one state or thing to another that is very different. A: "Why's Mom so upset? I thought she was happy that I moved out." B: "Yeah, well, you know Mom—she tends to go from one extreme to the other." Snow one day and 60 degree sunshine the next? Boy, the weather around here sure can swing from one extreme to the other! There was a hiring freeze for months, now HR has hired four new people in a week. I swear, it goes from one extreme to the other around here.

go from one extreme to another

To change or shift between two very different states or things. A: "Why's Mom so upset? I thought she was happy that I moved out." B: "Yeah, well, you know Mom—she tends to go from one extreme to another." Snow one day and 60 degree sunshine the next? Boy, the weather around here sure can go from one extreme to another! A: "The notorious computer hacker who once stole money from unsuspecting Internet users now helps the government catch other hackers." B: "Wow, he sure went from one extreme to another."

go from one extreme to the other

To change or shift between two very different states or things. A: "Why's Mom so upset? I thought she was happy that I moved out." B: "Yeah, well, you know Mom—she tends to go from one extreme to the other." Snow one day and 60 degree sunshine the next? Boy, the weather around here sure can go from one extreme to the other! A: "The notorious computer hacker who once stole money from unsuspecting Internet users now helps the government catch other hackers." B: "Wow, he sure went from one extreme to the other."

go to extremes

1. To take drastic measures toward some goal or end. I'm not surprised that he rigged the student council election—he seems like the type to go to extremes to get what he wants. t's just a minor leak, so let's not go to extremes—we don't need to tear open the kitchen to fix it. Of course I want to make it to the majors, but I will never go to extremes and take performance-enhancing drugs.

2. To act in an excessive or overzealous manner. Don't go to extremes scouring your whole house for my charging cord—just let me know if you happen to see it. All I asked was if you'd seen my charging cord—you chose to go to extremes and scour your whole house for it. A: "The other team has legit uniforms and full gear." B: "I don't understand when people go to extremes with their rec league teams like that."

in the extreme

To the furthest extent or degree. Geez, that film was boring in the extreme—it actually put me to sleep in the theater! I thought that movie was silly in the extreme, but the kids loved it. You didn't enjoy her lecture? Oh my, I thought it was fascinating in the extreme!

kill (someone) with extreme prejudice

To kill someone without hesitation, mercy, or discernment. The general warned the rebels that they must either surrender or be killed with extreme prejudice. We must kill these terrorists with extreme prejudice to ensure the safety of our country.

silly in the extreme

Extremely silly. I thought that movie was silly in the extreme, but the kids loved it.

take (something) to extremes

To do something in an excessive or overzealous manner. With the way Phil keeps bossing us around, he's really taking his title of "interim manager" to extremes.

terminate (someone) with extreme prejudice

To kill someone without hesitation, mercy, or discernment. The general warned the rebels that they must either surrender or be terminated with extreme prejudice. We must terminate these terrorists with extreme prejudice to ensure the safety of our country.

go from one extreme to the other

to change from one thing to its opposite. You go from one extreme to another about Tom—one day angry, the next day perfectly happy.

go to extremes (to do something)

to be excessive in one's efforts to do something. Auntie Jane will go to extremes to make us all comfortable. Let's not go to extremes! We've already spent enough on gifts for the kids.

terminate someone with extreme prejudice

murder or assassinate someone. euphemistic, chiefly US

The expression originated in the terminology of the Central Intelligence Agency in the 1970s.

See also: extreme, prejudice, someone, terminate

boring, silly, etc. in the exˈtreme

extremely boring, silly, etc: I must admit, it’s puzzling in the extreme just how these books found their way here.

go to exˈtremes

carry/take something to exˈtremes

behave in a way that is not moderate or normal: She really goes to extremes, spending such huge sums of money on entertaining her friends. ♢ You never go out after dark? That’s taking being careful to extremes, isn’t it?

in the extreme

To an extreme degree: eccentric in the extreme.