overplay
to exaggerate or overemphasize (one's role in a play, an emotion, an effect, etc.): The young actor overplayed Hamlet shamelessly. The director of the movie had overplayed the pathos.
to put too much stress on the value or importance of: A charitable biographer had overplayed the man's piety and benevolence.
Cards. to overestimate the strength of (the cards in one's hand) with consequent loss.
Golf. to hit (the ball) past the putting green.
Archaic. outplay.
to exaggerate one's part, an effect, etc.; overact: Without a firm director she invariably overplays.
Origin of overplay
1Words Nearby overplay
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use overplay in a sentence
I wasn’t quite sure what a spy ought to wear, really, whether you should underplay it or overplay it.
The Mom Who Stole the Blueprints for the Atomic Bomb (The Freakonomics Radio Book Club Ep. 11) | Sarah Lyall | September 25, 2021 | FreakonomicsOne of the reasons the United States ended up with this messy pullout is because the Pentagon overplayed its hand in 2009.
The Kabul evacuation illuminated a dangerous strain of thought in the military about civilian control | James Hohmann | September 1, 2021 | Washington PostDemocrats can overplay their hand by stoking outrage in their supporters and end up being lambasted for being wrong or exaggerating.
Why We Are (And Should Be) Talking About Voting Rights Right Now | Sarah Frostenson (sarah.frostenson@abc.com) | April 7, 2021 | FiveThirtyEightIf defenders overplay Gilgeous-Alexander in his inevitable pursuit of the rim, he is one of the league’s foremost midrange artists because of his deceleration ability.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Knows Only One Gear: Drive | Louis Zatzman | February 26, 2021 | FiveThirtyEightThe coverage was pretty normal, they weren’t overplaying anybody, and with that said we were scoring some goals.
The Caps made small tweaks to their power play. They already see improvement. | Samantha Pell | February 24, 2021 | Washington Post
He is counting on his opponents to overplay their hand, and a forgiving public to let him do his job as governor.
Clinton and Christie: Let The Mud-Slinging Start | Eleanor Clift | January 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTRepublicans here have their work cut-out, but there is always the possibility that the Democrats will overplay their hand.
Stuffy Old Men: Region, Religion, Race and Class Define and Buffet GOP | Lloyd Green | March 31, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWells transformed old cheating and heart songs into soul music by resisting the overplay of emotion, writes singer Laura Cantrell.
Kitty Wells, The Girl Singer Who Became Country’s Queen | Laura Cantrell | July 18, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTThe main hope for the Have Nots is a Republican tendency to overplay their hand.
“Obama has to be careful not to overplay this as something he did personally,” says Feehery.
Even with such a negligible quantity as a deserted husband, it is a mistake to overplay the part.
The Far Horizon | Lucas MaletShe was not fool enough to overplay her hand, so her greeting was still disdainful, but when he tarried she did not send him away.
The Roof Tree | Charles Neville BuckWe scold it caressingly, as one reproves the overplay of a gracious child.
From the Oak to the Olive | Julia Ward Howe"Some day, though, he'll overplay his game," Benito prophesied.
Port O' Gold | Louis John Stellman
British Dictionary definitions for overplay
/ (ˌəʊvəˈpleɪ) /
(tr) to exaggerate the importance of
another word for overact
overplay one's hand to overestimate the worth or strength of one's position
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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