overreach

Etymology

over- +‎ reach.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -iːtʃ

Noun

overreach (countable and uncountable, plural overreaches)

1. The act of striking the heel of the fore foot with the toe of the hind foot; -- said of horses.
2. The act of extending or reaching too far, overextension.
   • 2010, Brian Montopoli, CBS News Obama: People Saw "Overreach" in My Actions:

     But, you know, I'm sympathetic to folks who looked at it and said, 'This is looking like potential overreach.'"

Verb

overreach (third-person singular simple present overreaches, present participle overreaching, simple past and past participle overreached)

1. To reach above or beyond in any direction.
2. To deceive, or get the better of, by artifice or cunning; to outwit; to cheat.
   • 1594, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, III. ii. 144:

     We'll overreach the greybeard Gremio,

   • 1599, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, V. i. 78:

     This might be / the pate of a politician, which this ass now o'erreaches; / one that would circumvent God, might it not?

3. To reach too far
4. (of horses) To strike the toe of the hind foot against the heel or shoe of the forefoot.
5. (nautical) To sail on one tack farther than is necessary.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)