Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'overdo'

English Word: overdo

Key Russian Translations:

• переусердствовать [pʲɪrʲɪʊˈsʲɛrdstvəvətʲ] - [Informal; often used for excessive effort in daily activities]
• перестараться [pʲɪrʲɪstɐˈrat͡sə] - [Informal; commonly used in contexts involving overzealous actions]

Frequency: Medium (This verb is not among the most common in everyday Russian, but it appears in discussions about excess or mistakes in effort.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb prefixes and imperfective aspects, which are typical challenges for learners at this CEFR level.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

переусердствовать: [pʲɪrʲɪʊˈsʲɛrdstvəvətʲ]

Note on переусердствовать: This word features a complex consonant cluster in the middle, which can be tricky for non-native speakers; stress falls on the third syllable, and the 'у' sound is pronounced as a short 'u'.

перестараться: [pʲɪrʲɪstɐˈrat͡sə]

Note on перестараться: The reflexive suffix '-ся' softens the pronunciation, and the word ends with a palatalized 'cə'; practice with native audio to master the rolling 'r' sounds.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To do something excessively or to an extreme degree (e.g., overexertion in physical or mental activities).

Translation(s) & Context:

• переусердствовать - Used in informal, everyday contexts to describe overdoing an activity, such as exercise or work, often implying negative consequences.
• перестараться - Applied in scenarios where someone tries too hard, like in social interactions or tasks, and ends up making a mistake.

Usage Examples:

• Он переусердствовал с тренировками и теперь чувствует боль в мышцах.

  He overdid it with the workouts and now feels pain in his muscles. (This example shows the verb in a health-related context, highlighting physical excess.)

• Не перестарайся на вечеринке, иначе все подумают, что ты слишком стараешься.

  Don't overdo it at the party, or everyone will think you're trying too hard. (Here, the verb illustrates social overzealousness in an informal setting.)

• Она переусердствовала с приправой в супе, и теперь он невкусный.

  She overdid it with the seasoning in the soup, and now it's unappetizing. (This demonstrates the verb in a culinary context, emphasizing excess in preparation.)

• Мальчик перестарался в игре и сломал игрушку.

  The boy overdid it in the game and broke the toy. (This example uses the verb to show playful excess leading to unintended results.)

• В работе мы часто переусердствуем, чтобы произвести впечатление на босса.

  In our work, we often overdo it to impress the boss. (This highlights the verb in a professional context, with a focus on motivation and outcomes.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both "переусердствовать" and "перестараться" are imperfective verbs in Russian, meaning they describe ongoing or repeated actions. They follow standard Russian verb conjugation patterns for the first conjugation group, with irregularities in prefixed forms. Below is a table outlining key inflections for the present tense (as these are the most common forms).

Note: These verbs are reflexive in nature (e.g., with '-ся' in "перестараться"), so they may require the appropriate particle in other forms. They do not have perfective counterparts in standard usage, making them invariant in aspect for this meaning.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • перегнуть палку (to go overboard; more idiomatic, used in casual speech)
  • слишком усердствовать (to be overly zealous; slightly more formal variant)
• Antonyms:
  • сдерживать (to restrain; implies moderation)
  • умерять (to moderate; used when reducing excess)

Related Phrases:

• переусердствовать в чем-то - Overdo something (e.g., in efforts or preparations; common in advice-giving contexts).
• перестараться на работе - Overdo it at work (implies burnout or excessive dedication; often used in professional discussions).
• не переусердствовать с едой - Don't overdo it with food (a phrase for moderation in eating, especially in health contexts).

Usage Notes:

Both "переусердствовать" and "перестараться" closely correspond to the English "overdo" in meaning excess or overexertion, but they are more informal and conversational in Russian. Use "переусердствовать" when emphasizing physical or habitual overdoing, while "перестараться" is better for situations involving unintended mistakes from too much effort. Be mindful of the reflexive form in "перестараться," which requires agreement with the subject. In formal writing, opt for periphrastic expressions like "сделать слишком много" if these verbs feel too colloquial. Learners should note that Russian verbs like these often require context to distinguish from similar prefixed verbs.

Common Errors:

• Mistake: Using the wrong verb form, e.g., saying "переусердствовал" when the context requires the present tense "переусердствую." Correct: переусердствую в повседневных делах (I overdo it in daily tasks). Explanation: Russian verbs must match the tense and aspect; beginners often overlook prefixes that change meaning.
• Mistake: Confusing with non-reflexive verbs, e.g., using "перестарать" instead of "перестараться." Correct: Он перестарался (He overdid it). Explanation: The reflexive suffix "-ся" is essential for the meaning; omitting it alters the verb to something unrelated.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like "переусердствовать" often reflect a value of moderation, influenced by historical contexts such as Soviet-era work ethics where overzealousness could lead to inefficiency or health issues. This aligns with proverbs like "Всё хорошо в меру" (Everything in moderation), emphasizing balance in daily life.

Related Concepts:

• умеренность (moderation)
• перегрузка (overload)
• сдержанность (restraint)