overstretch
/ˌəʊvəˈstretʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌəʊvərˈstretʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈō-vər-ˌstrech/ (ame, mw) · /ˈəʊ.vəˌstretʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈoʊ.vɚˌstretʃ/ (ame, ipa)
overstretch — 動詞
- overstretchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- overstretcheshe / she / it
- overstretchedpast simple
- overstretching-ing form
1. to demand so much from a person, group, budget, or system that the time, money,
使超載
讓人力或資源負擔過重
to demand so much from a person, group, budget, or system that the time, money, staff, or energy available is no longer enough.
Jessica overstretched the clinic budget by ordering equipment for every room.
Jessica 為每個診間都訂設備，把診所預算弄得超載。
overstretch + budget
After two new contracts, Paloma's small team was badly overstretched.
簽下兩份新合約後，Paloma 的小團隊就嚴重超載了。
be badly overstretched
Hiring only weekend staff overstretched the restaurant during the holiday rush.
假日尖峰時段只聘週末員工，讓餐廳人力超載。
One late supplier can overstretch a factory that already runs all night.
只要一個供應商延誤，就可能讓整夜運轉的工廠超載。
- overload
stresses putting too much work or weight on something
- strain
can describe pressure without saying the limit was clearly passed
- overburden
more formal and often used for duties or responsibility
文法句型
overstretch + budget/team/service
be overstretched by + demand/work/costs
用法筆記
Often used for public services, teams, or finances that are already under pressure. In passive form, it usually suggests there is not enough money, time, or staff left to cope well.
2. to describe something as truer, bigger, or more important than the facts really
誇大
把事實或重要性說得過頭
to describe something as truer, bigger, or more important than the facts really justify.
Rachid's article overstretched the evidence from one small survey.
Rachid 的文章把一份小型調查的證據誇大了。
overstretch the evidence
The ad overstretched her qualifications and promised results she could not deliver.
那則廣告誇大了她的資歷，還承諾她做不到的結果。
By calling the delay a crisis, the mayor overstretched the issue.
市長把這次延誤說成危機，明顯誇大了問題。
The headline overstretched a minor mistake into proof of corruption.
那個標題把一次小失誤誇大成貪腐的證據。
- exaggerate
general everyday verb for making something seem larger or stronger
- overstate
especially used for claims, effects, or importance
- inflate
suggests making numbers or achievements look bigger than they are
- understate
describes something as less important or serious than it is
- qualify
adds limits or caution to a statement
文法句型
overstretch + the evidence/claim
overstretch + issue into + stronger conclusion
用法筆記
This sense is used for arguments, headlines, and public claims. Distinguish from sense 1: here the problem is that the statement goes too far, not that people or resources are under too much pressure.
3. to stretch or twist a part of the body farther than is safe or comfortable.
伸過頭
把身體部位伸或扭得太遠
to stretch or twist a part of the body farther than is safe or comfortable.
Chiara overstretched her shoulder while reaching for a box above the fridge.
Chiara 去拿冰箱上方的箱子時，肩膀伸過頭了。
overstretch + shoulder while reaching
Ishaan overstretched his calf during the last hill of the race.
Ishaan 在比賽最後一段上坡時，把小腿伸過頭了。
overstretch + calf during sport
Trying to catch the kite, Hoa overstretched her wrist and dropped the phone.
Hoa 想接住風箏時，手腕伸過頭，手機也掉了。
The dancer overstretched a knee when she landed on the wet stage.
那名舞者落在濕滑舞台上時，把膝蓋伸過頭了。
文法句型
overstretch + shoulder/back/leg/wrist
overstretch + body part + while + -ing
用法筆記
Used for exercise, sport, or reaching movements and often implies pain or a minor injury. Unlike sense 1, the object here is usually a shoulder, back, leg, wrist, or similar body part.
4. to put an existing brand name onto so many different products or services that t
過度延伸
把品牌名用到太多產品上
to put an existing brand name onto so many different products or services that the brand loses strength or clear identity.
Maeve's company overstretched its tea brand into shoes and phone cases.
Maeve 的公司把茶品牌過度延伸到鞋子和手機殼上。
overstretch a brand into + product area
The chain overstretched the bakery name by selling furniture under it.
那家連鎖店賣起家具，讓麵包店的名字被過度延伸。
overstretch the name by selling + products
Investors warned that the firm had overstretched the label beyond its loyal market.
投資人警告，這家公司已把那個品牌過度延伸到忠實市場之外。
Using the same brand on soap and laptops badly overstretched it.
同一個品牌同時貼在肥皂和筆電上，會把它過度延伸。
文法句型
overstretch + brand/name/label
overstretch + brand + into + product area
用法筆記
The object is usually a brand, label, or company name, and the context is marketing strategy. It is different from sense 2 because the problem is commercial spread across product lines, not exaggeration in language.
overstretch — 名詞
1. a state in which people, services, or resources are carrying more than they can
超載
資源不足卻承擔過多工作
a state in which people, services, or resources are carrying more than they can reasonably handle.
Years of understaffing left the ward in a state of constant overstretch.
多年人手不足，讓這個病房長期處於超載狀態。
state of constant overstretch
The charity's overstretch became obvious when bills piled up for three months.
帳單連三個月越積越多時，這家慈善機構的超載就很明顯了。
overstretch became obvious
Teachers warned that the school's overstretch was hurting after-class support.
老師警告，學校的超載正在傷害課後支援。
Rapid growth brought overstretch, and the help desk stopped answering calls.
快速擴張帶來超載，服務台也不再接聽電話了。
- overload
common term for more work or pressure than can be managed
- strain
can refer to pressure without always implying the limit was passed
- overextension
formal noun often used in business or financial writing
- balance
suggests resources and demands are in a workable proportion
- spare capacity
means there is still room to take on more work
文法句型
state of overstretch
overstretch in + service/organization
用法筆記
Usually appears in institutional contexts such as healthcare, schools, charities, or public services. It names the overall condition created by sense 1 of the verb, not a single exaggeration or body movement.