喜樂美語

核心畫面

You can think of overdo as a line that has already been crossed. Something was working — the jokes, the salt, the exercise, the time on the heat — and then more was added, and the extra is what causes the damage. The word never says the thing itself was bad; it says there was too much of it, and it usually arrives after the harm is done.

overdo 可以想成一條已經被越過的線。本來運作得好好的——笑話、鹽、運動量、在火上的時間——然後又多加了一些，出…更多收起overdo 可以想成一條已經被越過的線。本來運作得好好的——笑話、鹽、運動量、在火上的時間——然後又多加了一些，出問題的正是多出來的那部分。這個字從來不是說那樣東西本身不好，而是說「太多了」。它通常也是在事情已經壞掉之後才被說出口。

From the word’s history

The supplied Wiktionary entry gives Middle English overdon, Old English oferdōn, equivalent to over- + do. The word is still exactly its two parts today: over- for past the right point, do for the action. Whatever follows it — an amount, an effort, a cooking time — is simply what got taken past that point.

本包的 Wiktionary 資料寫明它來自中古英語 overdon、古英語 oferdōn，結構就是 over- 加 do。這個字到今天仍然等於它的兩個部件：over- 是「超過那個剛好的點」，do 是「做」。後面接什麼，就是什麼被推過了那條線——份量、體力，或是在火上的時間。

Wiktionary entry for 'overdo' supplied in this packet (source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:195031718:29369)

Three branches

程度上做過頭

這是核心畫面最直接的樣子：被推過線的是一個做法、一種風格或一種反應。

verb · C1

To do something more than is right or natural for the situation, so that it starts to work against you. Often used as 'don't overdo it', and in the past participle: the sad music is overdone.

做過頭、過度

把自己操過頭

同一條線，但被推過去的是自己的體力，而且付代價的是身體。

verb · C1

If you overdo it, you work too hard or stay too active, so that you end up tired, sore or unwell. Very common as advice: take it easy, don't overdo it.

把自己操過頭、太拚

份量與火候的過頭

被推過線的變成可以量的東西：加了多少，或者煮了多久。這一族幾乎都出現在廚房裡。

verb · C1

To use too much of something — too much salt, too much glue, too much colour or perfume — so that the result is spoiled by the extra amount.

放太多、用過量

原始詞典資料4 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法，原文照列，我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的；有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

overdoverb/ˌəʊvəˈduː/

  • 1

    To do too much; to exceed what is proper or true in doing; to carry too far.

    • I overdid the sweets during the holidays and put on some weight.
    • […] o’erstep not the modesty of nature: for anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end […] is to hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to nature;
  • 2

    To cook for too long.

    • to overdo the meat
    • [He] talked of a feast where he had been the day before, but that the venison was over-done.
  • 3

    To give (someone or something) too much work; to require too much effort or strength of (someone); to use up too much of (something).

    • to overdo one’s strength
    • Good God! hovv poore a thing is vvretched man? / So fraile, that let him ſtriue the beſt he can, / VVith euery little blaſt hee’s ouerdon.
  • 4

    obsoleteTo do more than (someone); to do (something) to a greater extent.

    • In a delicate Garden, where Art hath shewed it’s vtmost, yee shall meet with Roses, Gillyflowers, and Fountaines of Alabaster and Iasper; but thou wilt not so much admire this, as if thou shouldst light on these dainties in a Desert, or in some craggie Mountain, where the hand of nature shall ouerdoe that of art and Industrie.
    • [...] it would be their shame for ever to be overdone in mischiefe, nor were they here exceeded.

資料來源：英文維基詞典 English Wiktionary（CC BY-SA 4.0）。 原文照列，未經改寫。