excess
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(do something) to excess
To do or indulge in something too much. I started to lose weight once I stopped regularly eating to excess. I'll go to the pub with you guys, but I'm not drinking to excess tonight—I have to be up early tomorrow. I'm really worried that Kaylee is working out to excess. I mean, she's injured herself at the gym numerous times in just the last six months.
carry excess baggage
euphemism
1. To continue to be deeply affected by upsetting or traumatic experiences that one endured earlier in life. We all carry excess baggage with us as we go through life, but learning how to deal with those fears and insecurities is how we grow as people. It quickly became clear that the woman I was dating had been carrying a lot of excess baggage that I was just not prepared to deal with.
2. To have excess body fat. I decided that I was going to start going to the gym every day once I noticed that I was carrying excess baggage around my waist. We design clothes made specifically for those who carry a little excess baggage.
drink to excess
To drink alcohol to the point of intoxication. This is an important event for me, honey, so please don't drink to excess and make a fool of yourself.
excess baggage
1. Literally, travel luggage that exceeds the dimensions of size or weight normally allowed on a plane or train, usually requiring a fee for it to be allowed onboard. My suitcase was only slightly over the weight limit, but the airline clerk still insisted on labeling my suitcase as excess baggage and slapping me with a fine.
2. Any person or thing that is unnecessary or unwanted and thus is or becomes burdensome. I know it's ungenerous, but Martin's younger brother has been nothing but excess baggage since we agreed to let him live with us.
3. A personal history, emotional disposition, or traumatic experience that is or becomes debilitating or burdensome in life. He carried the excess baggage of his abusive parents with him for years after leaving home. Her reclusiveness has become real excess baggage for her in recent months.
in excess of
Over; greater or more than. The retail giant predicts earnings for the past year in excess of $4 million.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
do something to excess
to do too much of something; to consume too much of something. Anne often drinks to excess at parties. John smokes to excess when he works.
drink to excess
Euph. to drink too much alcohol; to drink alcohol continually. Mr. Franklin drinks to excess. Some people drink to excess only at parties.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
carry too far
Also, carry to excess. Extend too much in a single direction, as in One can carry the concept of mercy too far; these young thugs should be punished, or Humor in a sermon can be carried to excess. [Early 1700s]
in excess of
Greater than, more than, as in The book sold in excess of a million copies. [Early 1600s]
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.
in excess of
Greater than; more than: unit sales in excess of 20 million.
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.