overwork

Everyday

1. verb: To work too hard or too long, or to make someone do so. tree →
2. noun: Too much work that makes someone tired or ill. tree →
3. (overworked, adjective) Tired from too much work; also a word or phrase that is used so often it is boring ("an overworked word"). tree →

In the lessons

In health and life lessons, overwork is a cause of tiredness and stress; people need rest. In history, children and workers in factories were overworked. In writing lessons, teachers call "nice" and "said" overworked words and ask for better ones.

Examples

• The doctor said she was ill from overwork. tree →
• Don't overwork the horse; it needs a rest. tree →
• Factory children in the 1800s were badly overworked. tree →
• "Nice" is an overworked word; try "kind" or "lovely". tree →
• Dad overworks before holidays and then falls asleep on the beach. tree →
• Overworking your muscles can cause injury. tree →
• I am so overworked, and I don’t see why I should not have a page as well as other ladies. tree →

Note

Regular verb. The noun is uncountable: "from overwork", not "an overwork". In maths problems, overwork can mean hours above the normal: 50 hours instead of 40 is 10 hours extra.