overstep

/ˌəʊvəˈstep/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərˈstep/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌō-vər-ˈstep/ (ame, mw)

overstep — verb

  • oversteppresent simple I / you / we / they
  • overstepshe / she / it
  • oversteppedpast simple
  • overstepping-ing form

1. to go past a limit of behavior, authority, or privacy that people expect you to

1.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

to go past a limit of behavior, authority, or privacy that people expect you to respect.

例句

The senator overstepped his authority by ordering the police to close the shop.

collocation: overstep + authority

Trang felt I had overstepped when I asked about her divorce at dinner.

social boundary: overstep by asking a personal question

同義詞
  • exceed

    slightly more formal and common with fixed limits, powers, or amounts

  • transgress

    more formal and often used for moral or religious rules

  • go too far

    more conversational and often used for offensive behavior

  • trespass on

    narrower, especially for another person's rights, privacy, or territory

反義詞
  • respect

    used for boundaries, rules, and other people's privacy

  • stay within

    to remain inside accepted limits or authority

文法句型

overstep + authority/boundary/limit/rule

overstep by + -ing

用法筆記

Most often takes objects like authority, boundary, limit, rule, or role. Speakers also use it without an object when the crossed line is already obvious from the situation.

常見錯誤

❌The manager overstepped to ask about my salary.
✅The manager overstepped by asking about my salary.
💡use 'by + -ing' to name the action that crossed the line.
❌She overstepped with my privacy.
✅She overstepped by reading my messages.
💡'overstep' does not usually take 'with' before the boundary that was crossed.