word choice - Meaning of "over in"


I read this sentence in a book:



I just took part in a study over in the Psychology Department.



Why do we add over in front of in the here?



Answer



"Over" in that context is just a mild intensifier expressing that the location mentioned is some physical distance away. Cf. "Over There" — the song sung by American troops in the 1st World War in which Europe, way across the Atlantic Ocean, was referred to as "Over There."


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