The Verb "Overdo" – Meaning and Usage

The verb "overdo" combines "over-" (indicating excess) with "do", and it is used to describe actions that are taken too far or performed to an excessive degree.
Primary Meanings:

    To do something excessively or beyond reasonable limits:
    Often refers to overexertion, exaggeration, or taking an action too far.
        Example: "Don’t overdo the spices in the recipe, or it will be too strong."

    To exhaust oneself by overexertion:
    Refers to physical or mental effort that goes beyond what is healthy or sustainable.
        Example: "He overdid it at the gym and pulled a muscle."

Grammatical Forms:

    Base form: overdo
    Past tense: overdid
    Past participle: overdone

This makes "overdo" an irregular verb, with distinct past tense and participle forms.
Synonyms:

    Exaggerate
    Overuse
    Overwork
    Overindulge

Usage Contexts:

    Cooking or Crafting:
        "Be careful not to overdo the decorations on the cake."
    Health and Fitness:
        "She overdid her workout routine and felt sore the next day."
    Behavior or Performance:
        "His dramatic gestures overdid the intended humor of the scene."

Interesting Note:

The participle form "overdone" is commonly used as an adjective, especially in contexts like cooking ("The steak was overdone") or describing exaggerated actions ("Her reaction was a bit overdone"). It carries a connotation of something going beyond what is optimal or tasteful.