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! Has the Coast Guard been able to locate the man who went overboard? A: "Mother, don't you want to stand here with us and take in the vast sea?" B: "And go overboard? No, thank you. You two shouldn't even be that close to the railing!"

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. Obviously, if the kids are doing arts and crafts, they will go overboard with the glitter—there's no way around that. I think I went overboard with the desserts because all that sugar is giving me a headache now.

See also: go, overboard

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

go overboard

To go to extremes, especially as a result of enthusiasm.

See also: go, overboard

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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, to

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer