overcooked

/ˌəʊ.vəˈkʊk/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌovɚkˈʊkt] /ˌoʊ.vɚˈkʊk/ (ame, ipa)

overcooked — verb

  • overcookedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • overcookeds3rd person singular
  • overcookeding-ing form
  • overcookededpast simple

1. to leave food on the heat too long so it becomes dry, hard, or loses its best fl

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to leave food on the heat too long so it becomes dry, hard, or loses its best flavor.

例句

Constanza overcooked the salmon, and the edges turned dry and tough.

overcook + food

When Allison got a phone call, the noodles overcooked in the pot.

food + overcook

同義詞
  • burn

    stronger; suggests the food turns black or tastes burnt, not just cooked too long

  • dry out

    focuses on losing moisture, especially in meat or baked food

  • overdo

    broader and less specific; can describe cooking too much, but also many other kinds of excess

反義詞
  • undercook

    means the food is not cooked enough rather than cooked too long

文法句型

overcook + food

food + overcook

用法筆記

Often used for meat, pasta, rice, vegetables, or baked dishes. It usually implies the food is still edible, but its texture or flavor has become worse.

常見錯誤

❌The soup overcooked in two minutes.
✅The soup boiled quickly in two minutes.
💡overcooked suggests too much time, so it does not fit a very short cooking period unless the food clearly turned worse.

2. to add more effort, detail, or emotion than something needs, so the result feels

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to add more effort, detail, or emotion than something needs, so the result feels forced or excessive.

例句

The director overcooked the final scene with loud music and slow motion.

figurative: make a scene feel excessive

Eri overcooked the joke by explaining it again after everyone laughed.

overcook + joke

同義詞
  • overdo

    the closest everyday word; it also means making something more than necessary

  • exaggerate

    focuses on making something seem bigger or stronger than it really is

  • overwork

    often used when something has been handled so much that it loses freshness

反義詞
  • underplay

    means to present something in a restrained, less dramatic way

文法句型

overcook + scene / joke / plan / speech

用法筆記

This figurative sense is used for performances, jokes, writing, plans, or emotional displays. It suggests that extra effort makes the result less natural rather than better.

常見錯誤

❌The chicken was overcooked because the chef added too much sauce.
✅The chef overdid the sauce on the chicken.
💡this sense is about pushing style or detail too far, not about food staying on the heat too long.