overstate
Word family
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++o·ver·state /ˌəʊvəˈsteɪt $ ˌoʊvər-/ verb [transitive] EXAGGERATEto talk about something in a way that makes it seem more important, serious etc than it really is 把…讲得过分；夸大，夸张 SYN exaggerate OPP understate To say that all motorists speed in residential areas is overstating the case. 说所有驾驶员都在住宅区内超速行驶是言过其实了。 The importance of a child’s early years cannot be overstated (=is very important). 儿童幼年期的重要性怎么强调也不为过。 —overstatement noun [countable, uncountable] It’s an overstatement to say that the man’s a fool. 说那男人是傻瓜有点过分。→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
overstate• The need for occasional supervision at least when working with the dying can not be overstated.• The significance of this decline can not be overstated.• The company says that the dangers of driving while using cell phones have been overstated.• The importance to historians of encoding standards that will facilitate data exchange can not be overstated.• She backs up her description of the deteriorating work environment with solid research, though she sometimes overstates her case.• It would be difficult to overstate how important a figure this Baltimore newspaperman was in the world of wine.• For a man so understated personally, he is suprisingly overstated professionally.• And yet, I overstated the barber's deference and this made me misunderstand, crucially, Waugh's novel.• First, the agency may seek to expand a given government programme by systematically overstating the benefits or understating the costs.• Opponents say Nader is overstating the gravity of the problem.• Politicians typically overstate their case in order to get their point across.overstating the case• Crediting Gene Kelly with teaching the movies how to dance may be overstating the case.• However, Eddy's initial claims quickly turned out to be overstating the case.o·ver·state verbChineseSyllable
about talk something Corpus to way a in
overstate
o‧ver‧state /ˌəʊvəˈsteɪt $ ˌoʊvər-/
verb [transitive]
SYN exaggerate
OPP understate:
To say that all motorists speed in residential areas is overstating the case.
The importance of a child’s early years cannot be overstated (=is very important).
—overstatement noun [uncountable and countable]:
It’s an overstatement to say that the man’s a fool.
▪ exaggerate to say that something is much bigger, better, worse, more important etc than it really is: He exaggerated his own achievements. | These claims are wildly exaggerated. | The grass in the garden was about three feet high – I’m not exaggerating.
▪blow something (up) out of all proportion to say a situation or event is a lot worse or much more serious than it really is: The problem really has been blown up out of all proportion.
▪make too much of something to treat something that has happened as though it were more important or serious than it really is – used especially when saying that you should not do this: She loved the fact that he’d sent her flowers, but she didn’t want to make too much of it in case it meant nothing. | It's probably nothing – children often get these strange ideas. You shouldn’t make too much of them
▪overemphasize (also overemphasise British English) to say that a part of something is more important and has a bigger effect than is really true, especially in relation to other things: The importance of cleanliness in the preparation of food cannot be overemphasized. | Historians have tended to overemphasize the role of the monarchy in British history.
▪overstate to describe something in a way that makes it sound more important or serious than it really is: Sometimes she overstates her case. | The importance of advertising can hardly be overstated.
▪overplay to make something seem more important than it is, in the way that you talk about it or treat it: The media has greatly overplayed this issue.
▪glorify to make someone or something seem much better, less harmful etc than they really are – used when you think it is wrong to do this: His films glorify violence. | My father never glorified war. | These images were produced in order to glorify the empire.
▪talk something up informal to talk about something in a way that makes it appear more important, interesting, or successful than it really is, especially to get someone’s support or interest: At the interview, he talked up his experience of working in sales. | The government tried to talk up the threat posed by these countries, in order to justify an increase in military spending.
▪overrated adjective if you think someone or something is overrated, you think they are not nearly as good as people claim: I think her books are overrated. | As a player he’s overrated.
▪idealized adjective an idealized image, view, picture etc of someone or something shows them as being much better than they really are: His books give an idealized picture of English rural life. | her friend’s idealized view of marriage
o‧ver‧state /ˌəʊvəˈsteɪt $ ˌoʊvər-/
verb [transitive] Word Family: verb: state, understate ≠ overstate; noun: statement, understatement ≠ overstatement; adjective: understated ≠ OVERSTATED
to talk about something in a way that makes it seem more important, serious etc than it really is SYN exaggerate
OPP understate:
—overstatement noun [uncountable and countable]:
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