übertreiben

Übertreiben is a German verb meaning to exaggerate or to overstate something beyond its factual accuracy. It is used when a statement, description, or assessment is made to seem more extreme, dramatic, or significant than it really is. The action can be intentional, such as in rhetoric or advertising, or unintentional, as when perceptions are distorted.

Grammatically, übertreiben is a separable-prefix verb. In the present tense the prefix separates (ich übertreibe die Gefahr; er übertreibt die Kosten). It forms standard tenses like other German verbs, with the past participle übertrieben, used with haben in the Perfekt (er hat es übertrieben). It takes a direct object, as in übertreiben etwas oder übertreiben die Tatsachen.

Etymology and related forms: derivate from the prefix über- meaning excess and the verb treiben (to drive, to perform). The figurative sense evolved to describe making something seem greater than it is. The related noun is die Übertreibung, referring to an instance or the act of exaggeration.

Usage notes: Übertreiben can carry a critical or evaluative nuance, particularly when applied to media claims, political statements, or marketing. It is often contrasted with realistisches Bewusstsein or mit beschönigen, which means to gloss over or whitewash. In everyday language it can be neutral, humorous, or pejorative depending on context.

Examples: Er übertreibt die Gefahr, wenn er von einer Katastrophe spricht. Die Werbekampagne übertreibt die Vorteile des Produkts. Seine Behauptungen übertrieben die Tatsachen.