overreach

American  

[oh-ver-reech] / ˌoʊ vərˈritʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to reach or extend over or beyond.

   The shelf overreached the nook and had to be planed down.

2. to go beyond, as a thing aimed at or sought.

   an arrow that had overreached the target.

3. to stretch to excess, as by a straining effort.

   to overreach one's arm and strain a muscle.

4. to defeat (oneself ) by overdoing matters, often by excessive eagerness or cunning.

   In trying to promote disunity he had overreached himself.

5. to strain or exert (oneself or itself ) to the point of exceeding the purpose.

6. to get the better of, especially by deceit or trickery; outwit.

   Every time you deal with them you wonder if they're overreaching you.

7. to overtake.

8. Obsolete. to overpower.

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verb (used without object)

1. to reach or extend over something.

2. to reach too far.

   In grabbing for the rope he overreached and fell.

3. to cheat others.

4. (of a running or walking horse) to strike, or strike and injure, the forefoot with the hind foot.

5. Nautical. to sail on a tack longer than is desirable or was intended; overstand.

overreach British  

/ ˌəʊvəˈriːtʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to defeat or thwart (oneself) by attempting to do or gain too much

2. (tr) to aim for but miss by going too far or attempting too much

3. to get the better of (a person) by trickery

4. (tr) to reach or extend beyond or over

5. (intr) to reach or go too far

6. (intr) (of a horse) to strike the back of a forefoot with the edge of the opposite hind foot

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Other Word Forms

• overreacher noun

Etymology

Origin of overreach

First recorded in 1300–50; over- + reach ( def. )

Example Sentences

"He has overreached in advertising something to end up getting what he actually wants. Maybe what he actually wants is a larger military presence and an offtake."

From BBC

But residents see massive federal overreach in a place with a relatively small proportion of immigrants in the country illegally compared with other states.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It means that the civil liberties and constitutional rights of Canadians will be less likely to be trampled on because of government overreach," he added.

From Barron's

Despite that setup, Kahyaoglu wrote capital controls were an overreach: “Contractors don’t need to be regulated, given contract structure and clearer demand signals, self-regulate investments.”

From Barron's

It was a backup plan for a chaotic system, not an example of bureaucratic overreach.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• overdo