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over-the-top

over-the-top

117 5.2
Very extreme or exaggerated in a way that seems unreasonable
  • adjective
  • /ˌoʊvər ðə tɑp/
: exagerado
  • The decorations for the party were so over-the-top that it felt like a movie set.
  • way over-the-top
  • a bit over-the-top
  • a little over-the-top

The days to come will include over the top reactions by the media.

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Examples

  • It's so over the top.

    Hotel Transylvania (2012)

  • A little over the top for the office?

    A View to a Kill (1985)

  • It's really cool and just very over the top and I love it.

  • It's like at first it seems so over the top, it seems so extra.

  • This is perhaps a little over the top.

    A Good Year (2006)

  • That was way over the top.

    The Learning Curve (2001)

  • I can try, but it probably will still be too over the top for some.

    Blog text (2)

  • Our main character is so over the top dramatic.

  • The days to come will include over the top reactions by the media.

    Megyn Kelly

  • I'm impressed when someone can do a unique and over-the-top magic trick.

    Blog text (8)

Synonyms

excessive
vsover-the-top
208 3.6

More than is needed or reasonable

is specifically extreme and exaggerated rather than simply too much
outrageous
vsover-the-top
54 4.2

Too high to be fair or reasonable

is similar but focuses on extreme excess without necessarily shocking others
over the line
vsover-the-top
  • Informal
43 8.2

Acting in a way that is too rude or hurtful to others

is extreme or exaggerated in degree rather than simply inappropriate
overblown
vsover-the-top
29 5.7

Exaggerated and showy in style or speech

is more broadly extreme rather than mainly pompous or inflated
overzealous
vsover-the-top
27 7.7

Being too eager and causing problems

is about extreme excess in general, not only eager behavior
overdone
vsover-the-top
15 3.9

Made to seem bigger or more important than it really is

is even more extremely excessive or exaggerated in degree
over-embellished
vsover-the-top
1 7.3

Too decorated so it looks showy and not natural

is about extreme excess generally rather than decorative excess
overemphatic
vsover-the-top
1 6.8

Saying something with too much force so it sounds fake

is broader, covering extreme excess not only strong emphasis
overlofty
vsover-the-top
1 8.2

Having goals or ideas that are too high and unrealistic

is more about broad exaggeration than lofty ambition or style

Antonyms

moderate
310 3.3

Not very large or intense

understated
23 6.5

Simple and quiet in a way that looks elegant

How Excessive

absurd
284 4.4
over-the-top
117 5.2
extravagant
21 6.0
exaggerated
71 4.1

Surface Forms

over-the-top positive

Morphology

over-the-top = the + top (semi-transparent) = over + the + top

The phrase components are clear, but the idiomatic meaning 'excessive' is a metaphorical extension and not purely literal for many learners. [Postprocessing: moved 'over' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Over-the-top comes from World War I, when soldiers climbed 'over the top' of their trenches to charge into battle, a loud and dangerous move beyond safety, so today over-the-top means 'extremely excessive' or more than what is normal.