gone overboard

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gone overboard" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone who has exceeded reasonable limits or gone too far in their actions or behavior. Example: "She really went overboard with the decorations for the party, making it look more like a carnival than a simple gathering."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Modern recording has gone overboard on the volume," he said.

The New York Times

A few minutes later, she felt she'd gone overboard.

The New Yorker

Look, so many people have gone overboard with these issues.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mr. Thomas believes boards "have gone overboard in Manhattan".

The New York Times

THE four dissenters declared, however, that Michigan had gone overboard.

The New York Times

I understand the genesis of this situation, but I think we've gone overboard.

The New York Times

But even proponents of the subsidies say the administration may have gone overboard.

The New York Times

Has so-called political correctness gone overboard in these kinds of disputes?

The New York Times

"The Afghans have gone overboard," said Rashed Rahman, editor of The Daily Times, based in Lahore.

The New York Times

"To call the Nobel committee clowns just shows they've gone overboard," she said.

The New York Times

And we don't mind the interest, but I just think it has gone overboard.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gone overboard", consider the specific context to ensure the phrase accurately reflects the degree of excess or inappropriateness you intend to communicate.

Common error

While "gone overboard" is a useful idiom, avoid using it excessively in your writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "went too far" or "exceeded the limit" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gone overboard" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to describe an action or behavior that has exceeded reasonable limits. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, supported by numerous examples across diverse sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "gone overboard" is a common and grammatically sound idiom used to describe situations where someone or something has exceeded reasonable limits. Ludwig AI confirms this, presenting numerous examples mainly from News & Media sources. While versatile, it's best to be mindful of the context and consider alternative phrases like "went too far" or "exceeded the limit" in more formal settings to add variety and precision to your writing. Also make sure to use it in moderation in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went overboard

This alternative is similar, implying excess, but is structurally different.

went too far

This alternative is more general, referring to exceeding any kind of limit.

exceeded the limit

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes a specific boundary being crossed.

overstepped the mark

This alternative suggests a boundary of acceptable behavior was crossed.

took it too far

This alternative implies an action was done in excess.

got carried away

This alternative suggests a loss of control led to exceeding limits.

became excessive

This alternative focuses on the state of being beyond what is reasonable or necessary.

pushed the envelope

This alternative suggests testing the boundaries rather than necessarily exceeding them.

overdid it

This alternative is more casual and focuses on the act of doing something in excess.

lost all restraint

This alternative emphasizes the lack of control in exceeding limits.

FAQs

How can I use "gone overboard" in a sentence?

You can use "gone overboard" to describe when someone has exceeded reasonable limits or done something excessively, such as "She really "went overboard" with the decorations for the party".

What's a less common alternative to "gone overboard"?

While "gone overboard" is common, you could use phrases like "overstepped the mark" or "became excessive" for a less frequent expression with similar meaning.

Is "gone overboard" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "gone overboard" might be perceived as slightly informal. In formal contexts, consider using more precise alternatives like "exceeded the limit" or "went too far" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "gone overboard" and "got carried away"?

"Gone overboard" implies exceeding a reasonable limit in a specific action or behavior. "Got carried away", on the other hand, suggests a loss of control leading to excessive action. For example, "He "got carried away" and spent all his money" implies a lack of control, while "He "went overboard" with the decorations" suggests an excessive effort.