overcookv.
/ˌəʊvəˈkʊk/, U.S. /ˌoʊvərˈkʊk/ 1. transitive. To cook (food) too much or for too long. Also figurative.
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the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > cooking > cook [verb (transitive)] > overcook
overdo1683
overcook1850
grizzle1900
1850 G. L. Ditson Circassia 92 I found the captain had been long awaiting my coming to dinner, and that some delicate wildfowl, by my delay, had been overcooked.
1885 Harper's Mag. May 984/2 Don't overcook it, but be certain to have it rare.
1904 Daily Chron. 30 May 8/3 So you can over-cook even a sauce.
1963 R. Carrier Great Dishes of World xiii. 225 Be careful not to overcook pasta.
1996 Sainsbury's Mag. Jan. 105/2 The only watchword is not to overcook them [sc. beans] as this will make them fall to a mush.
2000 Time Out 26 Jan. 83/4 Around halfway through, though, it becomes apparent that someone's over-cooked the story a little with too many incidentals and worldwide locations to keep track of.
2. transitive. Sport (esp. Motor Racing). To approach (a bend, etc.) at too high a speed, esp. so as to cause a loss of control. Also with it.
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1985 Truck & Driver June 44/1 In his frantic attempt to regain position, Walker overcooked it downhill out of Druids, and came the whole way down hill on the grass.
1987 Speedway Mail Internat. 26 Sept. 23/1 Shawn and reserve Ian Stead led for two laps but the Sheffield reserve overcooked a third lap bend and Marvyn Cox ripped by for the vital second place.
1992 Yachts & Yachting 28 Aug. 96/3 ‘Auriga’..overcooked the start by a gnat's hair and had to return.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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