verb
to exaggerate, to overdo
B1
Übertreiben: to exaggerate; to overdo (to take something too far). Strong irregular verb with past übertrieb and participle übertrieben; uses haben. Non‑reflexive, typically transitive or impersonal (e.g., 'es übertreiben'). Note the vowel change in Präteritum and Partizip II; imperative: Übertreibe!
Examples
Du hast übertrieben.
You exaggerated.
Er neigt dazu, seine Erfolge zu übertreiben, um besser zu wirken.
He tends to overdo his successes to appear better.
Er übertrieb maßlos.
He exaggerated excessively.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone stretching a small fish into a huge one on a fishing story (exaggeration).
Think 'over-tribe' — imagine telling an 'over' big tale to a whole tribe (exaggerate).
Notes
A strong verb with irregular past forms (Präteritum: übertrieb, Partizip II: übertrieben). Often used in contexts of speech, descriptions or complaints about excess.