Phrase guide

go overboard

verb · 2 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 fall out of a vessel.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Attach the buoys so they don't go overboard.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To go too far; to exceed reasonable bounds.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive

Examples

  • You can decorate the new room, but don't go overboard with surreal paintings.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: get carried away, gild the lily, overegg, over-egg the pudding, overdo, take (something) too far

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

36 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 落入水中 (luòrù shuǐzhōng) — fall out of a vessel
  • Estonian: üle parda kukkuma — fall out of a vessel
  • Finnish: tippua mereen — fall out of a vessel
  • Polish: wypadać za burtę — fall out of a vessel
  • Polish: wypaść za burtę — fall out of a vessel
  • Portuguese: cair na água — fall out of a vessel
  • Ukrainian: ви́пасти за борт (výpasty za bort) — fall out of a vessel
  • Chinese Cantonese: 玩大 — go too far
  • Chinese Mandarin: 過度 /过度 (guòdù) — go too far
  • Esperanto: transpaŝi la limon — go too far
  • Esperanto: preterpasi — go too far
  • Esperanto: superplenumi — go too far
  • Finnish: mennä liian pitkälle — go too far
  • Finnish: liioitella — go too far
  • Finnish: mennä ylitse — go too far
  • Finnish: mopo keulii — go too far
  • Finnish: mopo karkaa käsistä — go too far
  • French: en faire des tonnes — go too far
  • French: en faire des caisses — go too far
  • Hungarian: túltol — go too far
  • Jamaican Creole: tek di ting too far — go too far
  • Polish: przesadzać — go too far
  • Polish: przesadzić — go too far
  • Portuguese: ir longe demais — go too far
  • Portuguese: passar dos limites — go too far
  • Portuguese: exagerar — go too far
  • Portuguese: abusar — go too far
  • Russian: перегибать палку (peregibatʹ palku) — go too far
  • Spanish: sobrepasar los límites — go too far
  • Spanish: exagerar — go too far
  • Spanish: excederse — go too far
  • Spanish: echar desmadre — go too far
  • Turkish: abartmak — go too far
  • Turkish: aşırıya kaçmak — go too far
  • Ukrainian: переборщи́ти (pereborščýty) — go too far
  • Ukrainian: перестара́тися (perestarátysja) — go too far