impulse; spontaneously: He started talking off the wall about how he should go to El Salvador. over the hill • over the hump over the hill—1. past one’s prime; no longer young enough: As they say about boxers who are getting on in years, she is over the hill . 2. past the critical point; past the worst part of a difficult situation: According to experts’ analysis made over the last month, this crisis is “over the hill .” The U.S. unem- ployment rate has peaked at 10.0 percent. over the hump— = over the hill 2: My aquarium is still in its early stages, but I think I am over the hump and on my way to a stable marine environment. overplay one’s hand • play one’s hand for all it is worth overplay one’s hand—act in the belief that one is in a stronger position than one really is: Though our prices were lower we overplayed our hand , so that our competitors were awarded the contract. play one’s hand for all it is worth—make every possible effort or attempt: Well, you have played your hand for all it was worth , and you have lost. overplay something • play something over overplay something—exaggerate or overemphasize smth.: There was a level of skepticism in the community, a sense that the media had overplayed the significance of the virus. play something over—play smth. such as music or a game again: “Desperado” a song that I wish had never gotten ruined by overplay on commercial radio, was so riveting I had to play it over and over. override something • ride over something override something—1. have precedence or superiority over smth.: The day-to-day struggle for survival overrode all other things. 2. make a decision, etc. ineffective using one’s higher authority: As managing director, he will be able to override their decisions. ride over something—pass across smth. on horseback, bicy- cle, etc.: Huntsmen have no right to ride over other people’s land without permission. overrule something • rule over something overrule something—make a decision, etc. ineffective using one’s higher authority: The judgment was overruled by the European Court of Justice. rule over something—act as the ruler of a state, territory, etc.: Babylonia was conquered by Kassite princes who ruled over it for 576 years and nine months. overrun someone • run someone over overrun someone—attack an enemy force: They were sent off with orders to overrun the troops attacking Shuttleworth’s forward defenses. run someone over—1. (also: run someone down) knock smb. to the ground with a vehicle (usually Passive): A woman was run over while crossing the road. 2. drive a person to a des- tination: I jumped into a jeep with a kid behind its wheel waiting to run me over to Ewell’s headquarters. overrun something • run over something overrun something—1. (of troops) spread over and occupy a territory: The British remained in control of Malaysia until World War II, when Japan overran the country. 2. (of liquid) flow over smth.: I was astounded at the damage that was caused when a river overran its banks. 3. go beyond a fixed limit: The amended motion led to a fairly heated debate which overran the time originally allowed. run over something—1. damage smth. with a vehicle: Misty’s brother left her brand-new bike in the middle of the street, and a car ran over it. 2. pass over smth.: There seemed to be a single country road running in the middle of the field with a black power line running over it. 3. briefly browse through smth. written or printed: Running over the pages of a travel magazine, I spotted a small and rather unimposing photo- graph. oversee something • see over something oversee something—officially supervise smth.: He was like a single-minded big brother overseeing every act and thought of the people. see over something—visit and examine a house or place: Are you the young man who wants to see over the occupational therapy department? See also: look over something / watch over something. overshoot the mark • overstep the mark overshoot the mark—do smth. to a greater extent than is necessary or desirable: Where have we overshot the mark when it comes to technology, and where have we not yet begun to realize its potential? overstep the mark—behave in a way that is considered morally or legally unacceptable: He appeared like a person who has overstepped the mark , has wounded another’s feel- ings, or alluded to some subject that were better left unmen- tioned. oversleep • sleep over oversleep—sleep beyond one’s usual or intended time for waking: I drove home when he never showed up only to get a call from him telling me that he’s on his way and he overslept . sleep over—stay overnight at someone else’s home: I am a senior in high school and still have to ask my parents permis- sion to sleep over at a friend’s house. Cf.: have a sleepover— said of a party usually held by children where guests stay overnight: I’m planning to have a sleepover with about four girlfriends in a few weeks time (post-exam-celebration). overstep something • step over something overstep something—go beyond the bounds of smth.; over- come specific limitations: Some brave women in each age may have tried to overstep the limits set for them. step over something—1. lift the feet so as to pass above smth.: We had to step over piles of broken bricks. 2. = overstep some- thing 2: We’re always flattered when people are having fun, as long as they don’t step over the boundaries. overtake something • take something over overtake something—1. catch up with smth. (and pass) as in traveling, race, or pursuit: Members of the crew continued to remark at how Lewis had managed to overtake the other ship. 2. surpass smth. in achievement, production, etc.: Tourism continues to be important to the island’s economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. take something over—accept smth. from smb. else; take con- trol of a business, etc.: When Graham and Ivan took the busi - ness over their main priority was to make the business profitable. overthrow something • throw something over overthrow something—1. turn smth. upside down: …there was a boat right above the submarine. The boat was over - thrown and nine fishermen drowned. 2. (of a regime, govern- ment, etc.) bring about the downfall; remove by force: Communism signifies an organized attempt to overthrow the existing social order. 3. (of a law, verdict, etc.) eliminate or invalidate: Laws are openly violated, standards of behavior are overthrown . – 261 – overthrow something