overacting

[/ˌoʊvərˈæktɪŋ/]
noun, verb (gerund/present participle)
exagero na atuação
1. The act of performing with exaggerated emotions, gestures, or expressions; acting in an overly dramatic or theatrical manner
The actor's overacting in the melodrama made the audience laugh unintentionally.
O exagero na atuação do ator no melodrama fez o público rir involuntariamente.
2. Performing a role with excessive intensity that appears unnatural or unconvincing
Critics complained about the overacting in the film, saying it lacked subtlety.
Os críticos reclamaram do exagero na atuação do filme, dizendo que lhe faltava sutileza.
3. Reacting with more intensity or emotion than the situation warrants
His overacting when he found out about the surprise party seemed forced.
Seu exagero na reação quando descobriu sobre a festa surpresa pareceu forçado.
In Brazilian cinema and television, overacting is often criticized by film critics as a sign of poor acting technique, while in American entertainment, it is sometimes deliberately used for comedic effect in certain genres like comedy and action films. The term reflects different acting traditions between method acting (more realistic) and theatrical/classical acting (more expressive).
NYC Slang
hamming it up
Synonyms / Sinônimos
hammingmelodramatizinggrandstandingtheatrical performanceexcessive acting
Antonyms / Antônimos
underactingnatural performancesubtle actingrestrained acting

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
exagero na atuação
Most common formal translation in Brazilian Portuguese
General Brazilian
atuar de forma exagerada
Verbal form commonly used in Brazil
São Paulo
exagerar na atuação
Common colloquial variant in São Paulo
Portugal
exagero na interpretação
Portuguese preference for 'interpretação' instead of 'atuação'

Related Words

ham actortheatricalmelodramaticexaggerationperformanceactingdramatics

Related Idioms & Phrases

chewing the scenery
playing to the balcony
being a ham
laying it on thick
turning it up to eleven
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