Chew up scenery is a theatrical term used to describe the overacting or exaggeration of a performer. Synonyms for chew up scenery include over the top acting, hamming it up, scene stealing, being a show-off, or mugging for the camera. Other phrases that mean the same thing include stealing the limelight, hogging the spotlight, overperforming, upstaging others, and being a scene hog. These terms are often used to describe performers who are overly dramatic or lack subtlety in their portrayal of a character. When a performer chews up scenery, it can detract from the overall quality of a production and distract the audience from the story being told.