'overlap' vs. 'overlap with'

[eFFcia]

Hi Everyone,

Please help me understand the difference between 'overlap sth' and 'overlap with something'. I found the following example:

If two activities or periods of time overlap, the second one starts before the first one has finished: 1. example: The second phase of development overlaps the first.


overlap with
2. example: My vacation overlaps with yours.


Am I right thinking that according to the two sentences above 'the first activity overlaps with the second one' and 'the second one overlaps the first one'? In other words: is it clear from the 2. example that my vacation starts earlier than yours?

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[BobK]

If one thing overlaps another, that's what it does. If our vacations overlap, they overlap. I see no need or justification for 'with' (which doesn't mean that nobody ever uses it).

b