“Reading into it”

[FuckItItsFine]

Since I’ve been alive, I’ve been used to hearing the phrase “reading too much into [something]”. The phrase has always basically meant to incorrectly read between the lines; to infer something that maybe isn’t there.

”He’s asked me to go for a drink after work. I think he fancies me but maybe I’m reading too much into it.”

But in the last 2-3 years, I’m increasingly hearing/reading it being used in a different, incorrect (to my mind) way. People are using the phrase “reading into it”, without the “too much”. So the example above becomes:

”He’s asked me to go for a drink after work. I think he might fancy me but maybe I’m reading into it.”

Is this just wrong? Are people just being ignorant? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

It is "reading too much into it" That is the correct expression.

I agree with you , it's
'reading to much into it'
Your example is correct

Thanks for confirming that I’m not going mad! I see the wrong version on a lot of Mumsnet threads.

😱