Overreach
verb
To try to do too much or something that is too difficult.
The business overreached and took on too many new projects.
Often appears as...
- overreach oneself
- overreach their ability
verb
To defeat yourself or cause your own failure by trying to get too much power or control.
The politician overreached in his attempts to consolidate power.
Often appears as...
- political overreach
- overreach his authority
Usage tips
Formal
Political
verb
In law, to deceive someone by tricking them into doing something illegal.
The lawyer was accused of overreaching the elderly man into signing away his property.
Often appears as...
- accused of overreach
- overreach the law
Usage tips
Formal
Legal
verb
To try to do too much or something that is too difficult.
The business overreached and took on too many new projects.
Often appears as...
- overreach oneself
- overreach their ability
verb
To defeat yourself or cause your own failure by trying to get too much power or control.
The politician overreached in his attempts to consolidate power.
Often appears as...
- political overreach
- overreach his authority
Usage tips
Formal
Political
verb
In law, to deceive someone by tricking them into doing something illegal.
The lawyer was accused of overreaching the elderly man into signing away his property.
Often appears as...
- accused of overreach
- overreach the law
Usage tips
Formal
Legal
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Ambition Pitfall
Overreach implies ambition leading to one's detriment due to tackling unmanageable tasks.
She overreached by enrolling in advanced classes across all subjects.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Outcome
Using 'overreach' often suggests an unsuccessful result or failure.
The team overreached and missed all their deadlines.
Pro Tip 3/3Extreme Caution
Be careful when accusing someone of overreach as it can sound critical.
His comment on overreach didn't sit well with the ambitious entrepreneur.
Pro Tip 1/3Ambition Pitfall
Overreach implies ambition leading to one's detriment due to tackling unmanageable tasks.
She overreached by enrolling in advanced classes across all subjects.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Outcome
Using 'overreach' often suggests an unsuccessful result or failure.
The team overreached and missed all their deadlines.
Pro Tip 3/3Extreme Caution
Be careful when accusing someone of overreach as it can sound critical.
His comment on overreach didn't sit well with the ambitious entrepreneur.
Pro Tip 1/3Ambition Pitfall
Overreach implies ambition leading to one's detriment due to tackling unmanageable tasks.
She overreached by enrolling in advanced classes across all subjects.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Outcome
Using 'overreach' often suggests an unsuccessful result or failure.
The team overreached and missed all their deadlines.
Pro Tip 3/3Extreme Caution
Be careful when accusing someone of overreach as it can sound critical.
His comment on overreach didn't sit well with the ambitious entrepreneur.
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Video examples
Why wasn’t the Bill of...
But others felt the Constitution was overreaching and that more centralized authority would return the states to the sort of tyranny they had just escaped. These Anti-Federalists were especially worried by the text's apparent lack of protections for individual liberties. As the conventions proceeded,
Video examples
On data, rights, privacy...
about the debate around encryption the fact of the matter is strong encryption is a solved problem there is no debate around encryption what's a debate is the implementation now you know we we've heard just yesterday in fact that the FBI in a tremendous act of overreach has started
Video examples
Hackers: the internet's...
who is more watchful of our online world? The rules of the game are not that clear anymore, but hackers are perhaps the only ones still capable of challenging overreaching governments and data-hoarding corporates
Video examples
Why wasn’t the Bill of...
But others felt the Constitution was overreaching and that more centralized authority would return the states to the sort of tyranny they had just escaped. These Anti-Federalists were especially worried by the text's apparent lack of protections for individual liberties. As the conventions proceeded,
Video examples
On data, rights, privacy...
about the debate around encryption the fact of the matter is strong encryption is a solved problem there is no debate around encryption what's a debate is the implementation now you know we we've heard just yesterday in fact that the FBI in a tremendous act of overreach has started
Video examples
Hackers: the internet's...
who is more watchful of our online world? The rules of the game are not that clear anymore, but hackers are perhaps the only ones still capable of challenging overreaching governments and data-hoarding corporates
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
John Tyler Bonner
American Educator
That the role of size has been to some degree neglected in biology may lie in its simplicity. Size may be a property that affects all of life, but it seems pallid compared to the matter which makes up life. Yet size is an aspect of the living that plays a remarkable, overreaching role that affects life's matter in all its aspects.
Quote examples
Robert Baden-Powell
English Soldier
My belief is that we were put into this world of wonders and beauty with a special ability to appreciate them, in some cases to have the fun of taking a hand in developing them, and also in being able to help other people instead of overreaching them and, through it all, to enjoy life - that is, to be happy.
Quote examples
Jeh Johnson
American Public Servant
Those of us in public office and those of us who aspire to public office have a responsibility to be reasonable, fact-based, in our rhetoric and to not suggest things that are unreasonable, to whip up a lot of emotion in public, which can lead to government overreach, fear, suspicions, and prejudice.
Quote examples
Charles C. Mann
American Journalist
Americans are willing to cheer on politicians who denounce bureaucratic overreach and job-killing red tape in abstract terms. But they turn out to like specific regulations against toxic chemicals in their drinking water.
Quote examples
Tommy Thompson
American Politician
There is no greater example of government overreach and unrestrained liberalism than 'Obamacare.' It is so deeply flawed and such a clear and present threat to our economic stability that there is no way to fix it.
Quote examples
Hans Zimmer
German Musician
With animated film, you have to create the sonic world; there's nothing there. You get to color things in more and you're allowed to overreach yourself a little bit more, and it's great fun.
Quote examples
Steve Forbes
American Businessman
We must guard against the overreaching hand of big government trying to take away our freedom. And we must always protect the environment in a manner consistent with our values.
Quote examples
Francis Bond Head
Canadian Statesman
Although I had arrived in total darkness the light of truth at once burst upon my mind and I perceived most clearly that the republicans had overreached themselves.
Quote examples
Eugene Scalia
American Politician
Dodd-Frank is an important statute, but often when the government believes it's handling a particularly important issue, there can be a tendency to overreach.
Quote examples
Ben Sasse
American Politician
The #MeToo movement is a very important movement. It's messy. And it's complicated. And there are places where it's going to overreach.
Quote examples
John Tyler Bonner
American Educator
That the role of size has been to some degree neglected in biology may lie in its simplicity. Size may be a property that affects all of life, but it seems pallid compared to the matter which makes up life. Yet size is an aspect of the living that plays a remarkable, overreaching role that affects life's matter in all its aspects.
Quote examples
Robert Baden-Powell
English Soldier
My belief is that we were put into this world of wonders and beauty with a special ability to appreciate them, in some cases to have the fun of taking a hand in developing them, and also in being able to help other people instead of overreaching them and, through it all, to enjoy life - that is, to be happy.
Quote examples
Jeh Johnson
American Public Servant
Those of us in public office and those of us who aspire to public office have a responsibility to be reasonable, fact-based, in our rhetoric and to not suggest things that are unreasonable, to whip up a lot of emotion in public, which can lead to government overreach, fear, suspicions, and prejudice.
Quote examples
Charles C. Mann
American Journalist
Americans are willing to cheer on politicians who denounce bureaucratic overreach and job-killing red tape in abstract terms. But they turn out to like specific regulations against toxic chemicals in their drinking water.
Quote examples
Tommy Thompson
American Politician
There is no greater example of government overreach and unrestrained liberalism than 'Obamacare.' It is so deeply flawed and such a clear and present threat to our economic stability that there is no way to fix it.
Quote examples
Hans Zimmer
German Musician
With animated film, you have to create the sonic world; there's nothing there. You get to color things in more and you're allowed to overreach yourself a little bit more, and it's great fun.
Quote examples
Steve Forbes
American Businessman
We must guard against the overreaching hand of big government trying to take away our freedom. And we must always protect the environment in a manner consistent with our values.
Quote examples
Francis Bond Head
Canadian Statesman
Although I had arrived in total darkness the light of truth at once burst upon my mind and I perceived most clearly that the republicans had overreached themselves.
Quote examples
Eugene Scalia
American Politician
Dodd-Frank is an important statute, but often when the government believes it's handling a particularly important issue, there can be a tendency to overreach.
Quote examples
Ben Sasse
American Politician
The #MeToo movement is a very important movement. It's messy. And it's complicated. And there are places where it's going to overreach.
Example 1 of 10
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