Overreach

Overreach
Overreach O`ver*reach" ([=o]`v[~e]r*r[=e]ch"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Overreached}, ({Overraught}, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. {Overreaching}.] [1913 Webster] 1. To reach above or beyond in any direction. [1913 Webster]

2. To deceive, or get the better of, by artifice or cunning; to outwit; to cheat. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. To defeat one's own purpose by trying to do too much or by trying too hard or with excessive eagerness; -- used reflexively; as, the candidate overreached himself by trying to plant false rumors, which backfired/ [PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • overreach — over·reach /ˌō vər rēch/ vt: to make (someone or something) the subject of overreaching this uncounseled defendant was...overreach ed by the prosecution s submission of misinformation to the court Townsend v. Burke, 334 U.S. 736 (1948) must… …   Law dictionary

  • overreach — ► VERB (overreach oneself) ▪ fail through being too ambitious or trying too hard …   English terms dictionary

  • overreach — [ō΄vər rēch′, ō′vər rēch΄] vt. 1. to reach or stretch beyond or above; extend beyond 2. to reach too far for and miss 3. to get the better of by cunning or cheating; outwit vi. 1. to reach too far 2. to strike the forefoot with the hind foot:… …   English World dictionary

  • Overreach — O ver*reach , v. i. 1. To reach too far; as: (a) To strike the toe of the hind foot against the heel or shoe of the forefoot; said of horses. (b) (Naut.) To sail on one tack farther than is necessary. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To cheat by cunning… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Overreach — O ver*reach ([=o] v[ e]r*r[=e]ch ), n. The act of striking the heel of the fore foot with the toe of the hind foot; said of horses. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • overreach — (v.) c.1300, to reach above or beyond (trans.), from OVER (Cf. over) + REACH (Cf. reach). Meaning to extend over something, to cover it is from c.1400. Sense of to reach beyond one s strength is from 1560s. Related: Overreached; overreaching …   Etymology dictionary

  • overreach — oneself …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • overreach — *cheat, cozen, defraud, swindle …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • overreach — UK [ˌəʊvəˈriːtʃ] / US [ˌoʊvərˈrɪtʃ] verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms overreach : present tense I/you/we/they overreach he/she/it overreaches present participle overreaching past tense overreached past participle overreached to try to do… …   English dictionary

  • overreach — Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to reach above or beyond ; overtop 2. to defeat (oneself) by seeking to do or gain too much 3. to get the better of especially in dealing and bargaining and typically by unscrupulous or crafty methods… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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