overcook

/ˌəʊvəˈkʊk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərˈkʊk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌō-vər-ˈku̇k/ (ame, mw)

overcook — verb

  • overcookpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • overcookshe / she / it
  • overcookedpast simple
  • overcooking-ing form

1. to leave food on the heat longer than it should stay there, so it turns drier, h

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to leave food on the heat longer than it should stay there, so it turns drier, harder, or less pleasant to eat.

例句

Owen overcooked the salmon, so it broke into dry flakes at dinner.

overcook + food until texture changes

The noodles overcooked while Talia answered the phone in the hallway.

intransitive: food overcooked while someone was distracted

同義詞
  • overdo

    can describe food in casual speech, but it is broader and less exact

  • dry out

    focuses on the result, not the cooking mistake itself

反義詞
  • cook properly

    keeps the food at the intended texture and taste

  • undercook

    means the food is not cooked enough instead of too much

文法句型

overcook + food

[food] + overcook

用法筆記

Usually takes a food item as its object, but it can also be intransitive when the food itself is the subject. It focuses on leaving food on the heat too long, not on charring it black.

常見錯誤

❌I burned the pasta.
✅I overcooked the pasta.
💡use 'overcook' when the food stayed on the heat too long but did not become burnt.

2. to push an idea, joke, style, or effect so far that it starts to feel heavy, for

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to push an idea, joke, style, or effect so far that it starts to feel heavy, forced, or less effective.

例句

The director overcooked the ending with slow music and three extra speeches.

overcook + ending with added effects

Hannah overcooked the joke by repeating it at every table.

overcook + joke by repeating it

同義詞
  • overdo

    the nearest everyday verb for taking an effect too far

  • lay on too thick

    more idiomatic and especially common for praise, emotion, or style

反義詞
  • underplay

    present something more lightly or with less force

  • restrain

    keep the effect controlled instead of pushing it too hard

文法句型

overcook + joke/ending/theme

overcook + praise/effect/message

用法筆記

Mostly used in informal criticism of writing, design, humour, or presentation. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is figurative and says a choice was pushed beyond what felt effective.

常見錯誤

❌The film used the idea too overcooked.
✅The film overcooked the idea.
💡this figurative sense normally takes the idea or effect directly as the object.