Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To present (a dramatic role, for example) in an exaggerated manner.
  • intransitive verb To emphasize or stress unduly.
  • intransitive verb To overestimate the strength of (one's holding or position) with resulting defeat.
  • intransitive verb Sports To hit (a golf ball) beyond the green.
  • intransitive verb To overdo a role or an effect.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In any duplicate card-game, especially bridge and whist, the play of a hand which has already been played at another table and by other players; in memory duplicate, the play of a hand by north and south which was originally held and played by east and west.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive and (transitive) To overdo or overact one's effect or role.
  • verb transitive To present something in a manner more dramatic than necessary.
  • verb transitive To overestimate one's strength in a game or event, which ultimately may end in a defeat.
  • verb transitive, golf To accidentally hit (one's golf ball) beyond "the green".

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb exaggerate one's acting

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From over + play.

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