overestimate
/ˌəʊvərˈestɪmeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərˈestɪmeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌō-vər-ˈe-stə-ˌmāt/ (ame, mw) · /ˌəʊ.vəˈres.tɪ.mət/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌoʊ.vɚˈes.tə.mət/ (ame, ipa)
overestimate — 動詞
- overestimatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- overestimateshe / she / it
- overestimatedpast simple
- overestimating-ing form
1. to give a number, size, or amount that is bigger than the real one.
高估數量
把數字、大小或數量算得比實際多
to give a number, size, or amount that is bigger than the real one.
Arjun overestimated the distance from the hotel to the train station by almost five kilometres.
Arjun 高估了從旅館到火車站的距離，差了將近五公里。
overestimate + measurement noun (distance, weight, length)
The bakery overestimated demand for chocolate cakes and threw out twenty unsold boxes on Sunday night.
那家麵包店高估了巧克力蛋糕的需求，星期天晚上丟掉二十盒沒賣完的蛋糕。
subject is usually a company or planner
Eri overestimated how long the drive would take, so the family arrived an hour early.
Eri 高估了開車所需的時間，全家因此提早一個小時抵達。
Builders often overestimate the cost of materials so they can keep a small safety margin.
建商常常把材料費估得太高，好留一點安全的緩衝空間。
Tourists tend to overestimate the size of Iceland on a flat world map.
遊客很容易在平面世界地圖上把冰島的面積看得太大。
- miscalculate
neutral; can be too high OR too low — overestimate is specifically too high
- exaggerate
often deliberate or for effect; overestimate is usually an honest mistake
- underestimate
guess too low instead of too high
文法句型
overestimate + noun phrase (amount / size / number)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a planner, forecaster, or anyone making a numeric guess; the object is a quantity, time, or measurable size.
常見錯誤
2. to give an idea, plan, or quality more credit for being valuable or important th
高估價值
把某事物的重要性或好處想得太大
to give an idea, plan, or quality more credit for being valuable or important than it deserves.
The importance of sleep for young athletes cannot be overestimated, Coach Ilan reminded the team.
Coach Ilan 提醒隊員，年輕運動員的睡眠重要性怎麼強調都不為過。
fixed phrase: cannot be overestimated (emphasizing real importance)
Many first-time buyers overestimate the value of a fresh coat of paint on an old house.
很多第一次買房的人，會高估幫老房子重新粉刷一層油漆的價值。
Michael overestimates how much one good interview can change a hiring decision.
Michael 太相信一次好的面試就能改變錄取結果。
Critics overestimated the impact of the new tax on small family restaurants.
評論者高估了新稅制對小型家庭餐廳造成的衝擊。
The role of luck in business success is often overestimated, Iris told her students.
Iris 告訴學生，運氣在事業成功裡的角色經常被高估。
- overrate
very close in meaning; overrate is more about quality, overestimate covers importance and impact too
- exaggerate
exaggerate is about how you describe something; overestimate is about what you privately believe
- underrate
think something matters less than it does
- undervalue
think something is worth less than it is
文法句型
the importance/value of X cannot be overestimated
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is about value, importance, or quality — not about numbers. Often appears in the passive 'X is/can be overestimated' or the negated 'cannot be overestimated'.
3. to wrongly judge a person or team as being stronger, cleverer, or tougher than i
高估能力
把某人或某團體的實力想得比實際強
to wrongly judge a person or team as being stronger, cleverer, or tougher than is actually the case.
Nikos overestimated his opponent and lost the chess match in only twelve moves.
Nikos 高估了對手的實力，只下了十二步就輸掉那場西洋棋。
overestimate + opponent (sports / competition context)
Generals who overestimate the enemy often spend money on weapons they will never use.
高估敵人的將軍，常常花錢買一些永遠用不到的武器。
Valentina overestimated her new students and gave them a test that everyone failed.
Valentina 高估了新學生的程度，出的考卷讓全班都不及格。
Never overestimate a quiet child — Chidi placed second in the school spelling competition.
別小看安靜的孩子—Chidi 在學校拼字比賽拿到第二名。
- overrate
close in meaning when the object is a person or team
- underestimate
think someone is weaker or less able than they really are
文法句型
overestimate + person / team / opponent
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2: this sense takes a PERSON or group as object (their ability or character), not an idea, value, or impact.
overestimate — 名詞
- overestimatesingular
- overestimatesplural
1. a number or guess that is bigger than the real amount.
高估值
比實際數字偏高的估計
a number or guess that is bigger than the real amount.
Amihan's first overestimate of the wedding budget was double what the couple actually spent.
Amihan 第一次估的婚禮預算，是這對新人實際花費的兩倍。
an overestimate of + noun (budget, cost, number)
Two million visitors was a wild overestimate; only six hundred thousand came to the new museum.
兩百萬訪客是個大大高估的數字，新博物館實際上只來了六十萬人。
adjective + overestimate (wild, gross, slight)
Putri admitted that her overestimate of the repair time had pushed the project back a week.
Putri 承認她當初把維修時間估得太久，整個案子延後了一週。
The early overestimate of casualties caused unnecessary panic in the surrounding villages.
早期對傷亡人數的過高估計，在附近村莊引起不必要的恐慌。
Sven argued that the official population figure was an overestimate based on outdated census data.
Sven 認為官方公布的人口數字是根據過時的人口普查算出來的高估值。
- miscalculation
neutral; the error could be in either direction
- exaggeration
implies an intentional or rhetorical inflation
- underestimate
a figure that is too low instead of too high
文法句型
an overestimate of + noun (cost / time / number)
用法筆記
Countable noun; usually paired with an adjective showing how far off the guess was ('wild', 'gross', 'slight') or with 'of + the thing being estimated'.