overstayed your welcome

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   Stayed too long as a guest, so that your host is no longer happy to have you there.

   Grammar: Used as a verb phrase. The possessive pronoun changes: 'I overstayed my welcome.'

   Patterns

   • overstay your welcome
   • overstayed his welcome
   • overstaying their welcome

   We stayed for dinner and then for coffee, and I began to feel we had overstayed our welcome.

   He kept talking long after the meeting ended, clearly overstaying his welcome.

   If you visit relatives for more than a week, you may overstay your welcome.

2. 2phraseidiomfigurative

   Remained involved in a situation or place longer than people wanted you to.

   Grammar: Often used figuratively about jobs, public roles, or political office.

   Patterns

   • overstay your welcome in a job
   • overstayed his welcome as leader

   The manager had clearly overstayed his welcome at the club.

   After three terms, the mayor was accused of overstaying her welcome.

Common combinations

begin to feel you have overstayed your welcome

After two hours, I began to feel I had overstayed my welcome.

clearly overstayed his welcome

The guest had clearly overstayed his welcome.

risk overstaying your welcome

If you call her every day, you risk overstaying your welcome.

overstay your welcome by a week

They overstayed their welcome by a whole week.

Synonyms and how they differ

wear out your welcome

Similar meaning, but suggests you have made people tired of you through your behavior, not just through time.

outstay your welcome

Mainly British; same meaning as 'overstay your welcome'.

Word family

overstay verb

To stay longer than planned or allowed.

welcome noun

A friendly greeting or reception.

Commonly confused: overstayed your welcome or overstay?

Practice

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