Dictionary

overplay one's hand en · VERB

Meanings

1. To bet too much or play too aggressively based on one's excessive optimism in the quality of their cards.
2. (broadly, figuratively) To act too boldly due to overestimating one's advantage.
   • Eventually the NUR overplayed its hands with an all-out strike. And when Peter Parker, the then-chairman of BR, who was well regarded among his staff, called their bluff by threatening to close down the entire network, they caved in. 2022 December 14, Christian Wolmar, “Productivity should play no part in pay negotiations”, in RAIL, number 972, page 46:
   • Behind the scenes, Mr. Biden’s aides are searching Mr. Putin’s comments for evidence that he is sensing that he may have overplayed his hand — that his massing of troops has managed to unify the normally fractious 30 nations that make up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 2022 February 18, David E. Sanger, “The United States’ Message to Russia: Prove Us Wrong”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

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Relateds

know when to fold 'em · push one's luck · play one's hand right · hot hand