overextend

/ˌəʊvərɪkˈstend/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərɪkˈstend/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌō-vər-ik-ˈstend/ (ame, mw)

overextend — verb

  • overextendpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • overextendshe / she / it
  • overextendedpast simple
  • overextending-ing form

1. to push yourself, your money, or part of your body past a safe limit by taking o

1.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

to push yourself, your money, or part of your body past a safe limit by taking on too much, spending too much, or stretching too far

例句

Sofie overextended herself by taking three weekend jobs at once.

overextend yourself by + -ing

The cafe overextended its budget when it ordered new ovens and tables.

overextend + budget in a spending context

同義詞
  • overstretch

    very close in meaning, but it often sounds slightly more physical or financial

  • overcommit

    focuses on promising or agreeing to too much, rather than the wider result

  • strain

    emphasizes the pressure or damage caused, not the decision to go too far

反義詞
  • pace yourself

    means to control your effort so you do not take on too much

  • limit

    a broader opposite meaning to keep something within a safe range

文法句型

overextend yourself by + -ing

overextend + budget/resources

be overextended

overextend + body part

用法筆記

When the subject is a person, this verb is often reflexive: speakers commonly say 'overextend yourself' when someone takes on more work, spending, or responsibility than they can handle. With money, credit, or a body part, it is usually transitive.

常見錯誤

❌I overextended to finish everything before Friday.
✅I overextended myself trying to finish everything before Friday.
💡when a person takes on too much, English usually uses the reflexive object 'yourself'.
❌The shop extended over its budget last month.
✅The shop overextended its budget last month.
💡use the single verb 'overextend' for going past a safe spending limit.