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Synonyms

go overboard

Idioms  
  1. Show excessive enthusiasm, act in an excessive way. For example, It's easy to go overboard with a new stock offering, or She really went overboard, hiring the most expensive caterer. [Mid-1900s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

He was told to go overboard but was then called back to help the wounded and secure the ship, which was flooding.

From BBC May 29, 2026

Investors can hang loose for now, but probably shouldn’t go overboard.

From Barron's Apr. 17, 2026

Presentation does matter to a degree, but there’s no need to go overboard.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 19, 2025

“We go overboard because we haven’t learned how to temperate our appetite for memory.”

From Slate Nov. 13, 2024

It is not uncommon for doctors to be chronic overachievers; Beck wasn’t the first physician to go overboard with a new hobby.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

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