overreach

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o·ver·reach / ˌōvərˈrēch/ • v. 1. [intr.] reach too far: never lean sideways from a ladder or overreach. ∎  (overreach oneself) defeat one's own purpose by trying to do more than is possible: he was an arrogant egotist who overreached himself. ∎  (of a horse, dog, or other quadruped) bring the hind feet so far forward that they fall alongside or strike the forefeet: the horse overreached jumping the first hurdle.2. [tr.] get the better of (someone) by cunning: Faustus's lunacy in thinking he can overreach the devil.• n. an injury to a forefoot of a horse resulting from its having overreached.