- to overact, overdo, or overemphasize
- to overestimate the strength of (one's hand in cards) and be defeated as a result: the phrase overplay one's hand is usually used figuratively
verbo·ver·played, o·ver·play·ing, o·ver·plays
- a. To present (a dramatic role, for example) in an exaggerated manner.b. To emphasize or stress unduly.
- To overestimate the strength of (one's holding or position) with resulting defeat: overplayed his hand and lost the game.
- Sports To hit (a golf ball) beyond the green.
To overdo a role or an effect.
(third-person singular simple present overplays, present participle overplaying, simple past and past participle overplayed)
- (intransitive) and To overdo or overact one's effect or role.
- When Chris overacted his part again, the director warned that anyone overplaying would be barred from the next production
- To present something in a manner more dramatic than necessary.
- Although the play was wonderful, Joshua overplayed his role as the Beast.
- To overestimate one's strength in a game or event, which ultimately may end in a defeat.
- Jack won the last match of blackjack; Theo overplayed.
- (golf) To accidentally hit (one's golf ball) beyond "the green".
- The first few shots went wonderfully, but Robin overplayed the last and lost.