Question

Chew Up the Scenery to overact; to exaggerate your emotions

Accepted Answer

Josh was chewing up the scenery in the principal's office, crying and screaming that he didn't do it. This idiom comes from show business. Some actors carry on wildly, and in exaggerated, overemotional ways. A critic once wrote that this kind of uncontrolled theatrical behavior was like chewing up the scenery, and the criticism soon became a popular phrase. Today people can "chew up the scenery" wherever they show too much emotion to achieve a special effect.

Idiom	Chew Up the Scenery
Example	Josh was chewing up the scenery in the principal's office, crying and screaming that he didn't do it.
Meaning	to overact; to exaggerate your emotions
Origin	This idiom comes from show business. Some actors carry on wildly, and in exaggerated, overemotional ways. A critic once wrote that this kind of uncontrolled theatrical behavior was like chewing up the scenery, and the criticism soon became a popular phrase. Today people can "chew up the scenery" wherever they show too much emotion to achieve a special effect.

Scenery Chewing Show Chew Josh Principal's Office Crying