go overboard
Take too far
Go overboard means to fall or jump off a boat into the water: A wave hit and two passengers went overboard.
The figurative sense is more common—to do something to excess, to take enthusiasm or effort too far: She went overboard with the decorations.
The image is of someone so caught up they've tumbled past reasonable limits.
Exceed reasonable limits
- overindulgePartake to excess
- overextendExceed one's limits
- overactPerform with excess
- overcookCook beyond readiness
overcompensate · overload · overwhelm · overwork · overplay · overuse · overtax · overburden
Represent as greater
- embellishAdd decorative elements
- inflateFill with gas
- amplifyIncrease in strength
- dramatizeDepict with heightened emotion
embroider · overemphasize · overestimate · magnify · hyperbole · overplay · overdraw · oversell
Acting without deliberation
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- carelessInattentive, prone to mistakes
- foolhardyRecklessly bold
- unthinkingLacking conscious thought
imprudent · incautious · hasty · brash · impetuous · throw caution to the wind · devil-may-care · heedless
overdo
Exceed reasonable limits
- overindulgePartake to excess
- overextendExceed one's limits
- overactPerform with excess
overcook · overcompensate · overload · overwhelm · overwork · overplay · overuse · overtax · overburden · overcommit
overstate
Represent as greater
dramatize · embroider · overemphasize · overestimate · magnify · hyperbole · overplay · overdraw · oversell · overvalue
impulsive
Acting without deliberation
unthinking · imprudent · incautious · hasty · brash · impetuous · throw caution to the wind · devil-may-care · heedless · wild
overzealous
Excessively fervent or eager
- fanaticalExtremely and uncritically devoted
- obsessiveConsumed by fixation
- gung-hoUnquestioningly enthusiastic
overenthusiastic · overeager · carried away · caught up · swept up · zealotry · mania · fervor · frenzy · fixation
- Nautical Idiomsbatten down the hatches, all hands on deck, smooth sailing, three sheets to the wind, in the same boat
- sea idiomsall at sea, dead in the water, smooth sailing, sink or swim, miss the boat
- going too faroverdo, overstepping, crossing the line, overstep, cross the line
- lay it on thickoverstate, embellish, ham it up, overact, dramatize
- indulgenceindulgence, indulge, indulgent, self-indulgent, overindulgence
- escalationescalation, escalate, ratchet up, worsen, intensify
go overboardhold back
Prevent forward movement
take it easy · tone it down · rein it in · dial it back · play it safe
go overboardkeep one's cool
Maintain emotional control
stay calm · contain oneself · stay grounded · rein it in · keep one's head
gone, overflow, exaggerate, exaggeration, overboard, overkill, overreach, overshoot