die Übertreibung
Translation
exaggeration, overstatement
Examples
Das ist eine maßlose Übertreibung.
That is a gross exaggeration.
Er neigt zu Übertreibungen.
He tends to exaggerate.
Grammar Patterns
to be an exaggeration to be an exaggeration That is a gross exaggeration.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Hyperbel (hyperbole); Antonyms: Untertreibung (understatement)
Etymology
Derived from the verb 'übertreiben' (to exaggerate), which combines 'über' (over) + 'treiben' (to drive). The '-ung' ending nominalizes it.
Memory Tips
Picture someone 'driving' (treiben) a point 'over' (über) the line of what's believable.