elaborate excessively

[ɪˈlæbəreɪt ɪkˈsɛsɪvli]
verb phrase
elaborar excessivamente
1. to add unnecessary details or expand on a topic beyond what is needed; to over-explain or go into excessive detail
The speaker began to elaborate excessively on minor points, losing the audience's attention.
O palestrante começou a elaborar excessivamente sobre pontos menores, perdendo a atenção da plateia.
2. to embellish or ornament something to a degree that is excessive or unwanted
She tends to elaborate excessively when telling stories, adding fictional details.
Ela tende a elaborar excessivamente ao contar histórias, adicionando detalhes fictícios.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, elaborating excessively is often viewed negatively in professional settings and casual conversations. It's considered poor communication etiquette as it wastes time and can indicate lack of clarity or confidence. In academic writing, this is criticized as padding or 'fluff.' Brazilians may be more tolerant of elaborate storytelling in social contexts, whereas Americans typically prefer brevity and directness in business communication.
NYC Slang
run your mouth / talk someone's ear off / beat a dead horse
Synonyms / Sinônimos
over-explainbelabor the pointgo into excessive detailexpand unnecessarilyembellish excessivelyoverdolabor the point
Antonyms / Antônimos
be concisesimplifysummarizeabbreviatecondense

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
elaborar excessivamente
standard translation used throughout Brazil
Rio de Janeiro
se estender demais
colloquial alternative meaning to drag on excessively
São Paulo
alongar desnecessariamente
emphasis on unnecessary lengthening
Portugal
elaborar excessivamente
same as Brazilian Portuguese; also 'desenvolver em excesso'

Related Words

elaborateexcessivelyverbosityprolixitytangentdigressramble

Related Idioms & Phrases

beat around the bush
go on and on
belabor the point
go into the weeds
dwell on something
harp on about something
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