overratedo‧ver‧rated /ˌəʊvəˈreɪtɪd◂ $ ˌoʊ-/ adjective 
a vastly overrated film—overrate verb [transitive]
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Critics claim that many soccer players are overpaid, overrated and out of touch.
- I think her books are very overrated.
- the most overrated film of the year
- For he would never say it is overrated.
- It's an overrated commodity, you know that.
- The whole business of eating out in restaurants she considered a worryingly overrated activity.
Longman Language Activatorto exaggerate something
to say that something is much bigger, better, worse, more important etc than it really is: · "He said you walked 30 miles." "No - he's exaggerating. It was only about 15."· Newspapers tend to exaggerate their influence on the way people vote.· The grass in the garden was about three feet high - I'm not exaggerating.
to say that a situation or event is a lot worse or much more serious than it really is, especially with the result that people become very worried or annoyed: · The whole thing has been blown out of all proportion by the media.· It was just a simple disagreement. Don't blow it up out of all proportion.
to treat something that has happened as though it were more important or serious than it really is: · The press made too much of his stupid remark. He was only joking.· She loved the fact that he'd sent her flowers, but she didn't want to make too much of it in case it meant nothing.
if someone or something is overrated , people say they are much better than they really are: · I think her books are very overrated.· Critics claim that many soccer players are overpaid, overrated and out of touch.
also overemphasise British to say that a part of something is more important than it really is, especially in relation to other things: · The report overemphasizes the role of the teacher. Children also learn from their parents and from each other.· The importance of strict hygiene in the preparation of food cannot be overemphasized.
to describe something in a way that makes it sound more important or serious than it really is, especially in order to persuade people about something: · The company says that the dangers of driving while using cell phones have been overstated.· Politicians typically overstate their case in order to get their point across.
behaving as if a situation is much worse or more serious than it really is, especially with the result that you seem silly: · Oh, don't be so melodramatic! You're not the only one who has ever failed an exam.· She said she'd kill herself if he left her. She's always so melodramatic!
informal to say that your situation is much worse or you feel much more upset than is really true, in order to make someone feel sorry for you: · She really laid it on - saying that her kids would starve if we didn't give you a job.lay it on thick: · Most charities lay it on so thick it's hard to know what the truth is.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a vastly overrated film
a vastly overrated filmWORD FAMILYnounrateratingverbrateoverrate ≠ underrateadjectiveoverrated ≠ underrated
not as good or important as some people think or say OPP underrated: a vastly overrated film—overrate verb [transitive]