Phrase guide

chew the scenery

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To display excessive emotion or to act in an exaggerated manner while performing; to be melodramatic; to be flamboyant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Qualifier: performing arts

Examples

  • Near-synonym: camp it up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ham it up, melodramatize, overact, tear a cat, camp it up

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Its earliest reference is listed in the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang as being used by Mary Hallock Foote in Coeur D'Alene in 1894.http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20001024

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: cabotiner — To perform in an excessively emotional or exaggerated manner
  • French: surjouer — To perform in an excessively emotional or exaggerated manner
  • Italian: essere sopra le righe — To perform in an excessively emotional or exaggerated manner
  • Polish: odgrywać przesadnie — To perform in an excessively emotional or exaggerated manner
  • Polish: odegrać przesadnie — To perform in an excessively emotional or exaggerated manner
  • Spanish: robar escena — To perform in an excessively emotional or exaggerated manner