excess
(do something) to excess
To do or indulge in something too much. I started to lose weight once I stopped regularly eating to excess. I'll go to the pub with you guys, but I'm not drinking to excess tonight—I have to be up early tomorrow.
See also: excess
drink to excess
To drink alcohol to the point of intoxication. This is an important event for me, honey, so please don't drink to excess and make a fool of yourself.
See also: drink, excess
excess baggage
1. Literally, travel luggage that exceeds the dimensions of size or weight normally allowed on a plane or train, usually requiring a fee for it to be allowed onboard. My suitcase was only slightly over the weight limit, but the airline clerk still insisted on labeling my suitcase as excess baggage and slapping me with a fine.
2. Any person or thing that is unnecessary or unwanted and thus is or becomes burdensome. I know it's ungenerous, but Martin's younger brother has been nothing but excess baggage since we agreed to let him live with us.
3. A personal history, emotional disposition, or traumatic experience that is or becomes debilitating or burdensome in life. He carried the excess baggage of his abusive parents with him for years after leaving home. Her reclusiveness has become real excess baggage for her in recent months.
See also: baggage, excess
in excess of
Over; greater or more than. The retail giant predicts earnings for the past year in excess of $4 million.
See also: excess, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
do something to excess
to do too much of something; to consume too much of something. Anne often drinks to excess at parties. John smokes to excess when he works.
See also: excess
drink to excess
Euph. to drink too much alcohol; to drink alcohol continually. Mr. Franklin drinks to excess. Some people drink to excess only at parties.
See also: drink, excess
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
carry too far
Also, carry to excess. Extend too much in a single direction, as in One can carry the concept of mercy too far; these young thugs should be punished, or Humor in a sermon can be carried to excess. [Early 1700s]
See also: carry, far
in excess of
Greater than, more than, as in The book sold in excess of a million copies. [Early 1600s]
See also: excess, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
in excess of
Greater than; more than: unit sales in excess of 20 million.
See also: excess, of
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- (do something) to excess
- do to excess
- drank
- drink to excess
- wet (one's) whistle
- wet one's whistle
- wet whistle
- wet your whistle
- indulge in
- indulge in (something)