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What is "overplay"

Crossword clues for overplay

overplay
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
overplay
verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
hand
▪ The unions overplayed their hand in the end.
▪ If his opponents were intent on overplaying their hand, it could only improve his position with the cardinal.
▪ Eventually, however, Safdarjung overplayed his hand.
▪ This drove a much harder bargain and, it has been suggested, represents the moment at which Edward overplayed his hand.
▪ Should she spell it out to him, or would that fatally overplay her hand?
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ The press tends to overplay these disagreements among Cabinet members.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Amelia fretted that the press overplayed accidents, but there was nothing she could do about it; news was news.
▪ Bob did not overplay his obvious selfishness.
▪ Eventually, however, Safdarjung overplayed his hand.
▪ If his opponents were intent on overplaying their hand, it could only improve his position with the cardinal.
▪ The unions overplayed their hand in the end.
▪ This drove a much harder bargain and, it has been suggested, represents the moment at which Edward overplayed his hand.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
overplay

"to emphasize (something) too much," 1933, a metaphor from card games, in to overplay (one's) hand, "to spoil one's hand by bidding in excess of its value" (1926), from over- + play (v.). The word was used earlier in a theatrical sense. Related: Overplayed; overplaying.

Wiktionary
overplay

vb. 1 (context intransitive English) and (context transitive English) To overdo or overact one's effect or role. 2 (context transitive English) To present something in a manner more dramatic than necessary. 3 (context transitive English) To overestimate one's strength in a game or event, which ultimately may end in a defeat. 4 (context transitive golf English) To accidentally hit (one's golf ball) beyond "the green".

WordNet
overplay

v. exaggerate one's acting [syn: overact, ham it up, ham] [ant: underact]

Usage examples of "overplay".

When even her own supporters could not tear their eyes from the holograms of the angry-looking commanders, she saw that she was the one who had overplayed her hand.

Some of the watchers and agents in our ranks overplayed their hands when their regular channels to the outside were cut off.

It was during a second, intensive questioning of Scaevinus that Rufus overplayed his role as inquisitor, browbeating Scaevinus mercilessly.

Spellbound, the circle of pupils watched him with nary a titter at the appearance of an old and overweight wizard trying to tiptoe like an actor overplaying the part of a skulking thief.

He resented it, and felt Hooper was merely indulging himself and overplaying the role of victim.

Not only are you incapable of double-dealing, not only are you incapable of thinking along double-dealing lines, you're not even capable of thinking of the consequences to the double-dealer who has overplayed his hand.

A soothing word here and there, being careful not to overplay the soothing syrup.