German word

übertreiben

Pronunciation

IPA/ˌyːbɐˈtraɪ̯bn̩/

Meaning

  • verbexaggerate

Example

Er übertreibt oft, wenn er Geschichten erzählt.

He often exaggerates when he tells stories.

Illustration for übertreiben (exaggerate)

More examples

Sie übertreibt die Probleme, um Aufmerksamkeit zu bekommen.

She exaggerates the problems to get attention.

Core concept

A description grows larger than the facts, or an action becomes more extreme than the situation requires.

Common phrases

  • etwas übertreiben

    exaggerate ___

  • maßlos übertreiben

    exaggerate excessively

Similar words

aufbauschen: To make an issue seem more important or serious than it really is.
überspitzen: To present a feature in an especially extreme or pointed way.
dramatisieren: To portray an event as more dramatic and emotional than it really is.
überzeichnen: To exaggerate selected features so the overall picture becomes distorted.

Definition in German

Aussagen oder Handlungen über das tatsächliche Maß hinaus ausdehnen; etwas über das Normale hinaus steigern.

Word origin

The compound verb joins über "over" with treiben "drive," whose combination conveys forcing something beyond its ordinary extent.

Usage tips

  • The related adjective "übertrieben" often means excessive or over-the-top, not only factually exaggerated.

Other meanings

  • overdoverb

Opposites

  • untertreibenunderstateverb
  • verharmlosenplay downverb

Related words

  • Übertreibungexaggerationnoun
  • Übertreiberexaggeratornoun
  • übertriebenexaggeratedadjective

Word lists with this word