overreach

Meanings

Verb

• To reach above or beyond, especially to an excessive degree.
• To do something beyond an appropriate limit, or beyond one's ability.
• Of a horse: to strike the heel of a forefoot with the toe of a hindfoot.
• To deceive, to swindle.
• To sail on one tack farther than is necessary.
• To get the better of, especially by artifice or cunning; to outwit.

Noun

• An act of extending or reaching over, especially if too far or too much; overextension.
• Of a horse: an act of striking the heel of a forefoot with the toe of a hindfoot; an injury caused by this action.

Origin

• The verb is from Middle English overrechen, equivalent to ; the noun is derived from the verb or from the phrase to reach over.