overextend myself

Meaning

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   To try to do more than you can manage, especially by taking on too many tasks or obligations.

   Grammar: Used with reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, etc.). Often followed by 'with' or 'by'.

   Patterns

   • overextend myself with something
   • overextend myself by doing something
   • overextend myself financially

   I overextended myself with three major projects at work and ended up exhausted.

   She overextended herself by volunteering for every committee.

   Don't overextend yourself financially; only borrow what you can repay.

Common combinations

overextend yourself financially

They overextended themselves financially and had to sell their house.

overextend yourself with work

He overextended himself with work and had no time for family.

overextend your resources

The company overextended its resources and had to cut back.

overextend your credit

Try not to overextend your credit before the holidays.

Synonyms and how they differ

stretch yourself too thin

Similar meaning but emphasizes spreading your energy across too many things.

take on too much

Focuses on accepting more responsibilities than you can handle.

Opposites

Word family

overextended adjective

Having too many commitments or debts.

overextension noun

The state of having taken on more than one can manage.

Commonly confused: overextend myself or overextend?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “overextend myself”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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