French Conversation · Level 142
30 words
French word
surcharger
Pronunciation
IPA/syʁʃaʁʒe/
Meaning
- verboverpack
Example
Il a surchargé son sac pour le voyage.
He overpacked his bag for the trip.
More examples
Elle a surchargé son emploi du temps et est épuisée.
She overloaded her schedule and is exhausted.
Core concept
An already loaded bag receives another heavy load until its carrier is overburdened.
Common phrases
surcharger son emploi du temps
overload one's schedule
surcharger une prise
overload an outlet
Similar words
charger: To put goods or items into or onto a container or vehicle.
alourdir: To increase the weight of something.
accabler: To overwhelm someone with a large amount of work or worry.
encombrer: To obstruct a place or passage by leaving unwanted things there.
Definition in French
Ajouter une charge trop importante à une personne, un objet ou un service, que ce soit matériellement, professionnellement ou financièrement (appliquer un coût en plus); peut se dire pronominalement (se surcharger) ou avec quelqu'un (surcharger quelqu'un de).
Word origin
The prefix sur- adds excess to charger, which came through Old French from Late Latin carricare, meaning to load.
Usage tips
- With a person as object, surcharger quelqu'un de + noun means giving that person too much of something, while se surcharger de marks taking on too much oneself.