Too much of article included in open work (4-3-3)
I believe the answer is:
over-the-top
'too much' is the definition.
'article included in open work' is the wordplay.
'article' becomes 'the' (the definite article in English).
'included in' indicates putting letters inside.
'open' becomes 'overt' (associated in meaning).
'work' becomes 'op' (common abbreviation for 'opus').
'the' inserted into 'overt' is 'overthet'.
'overthet'+'op'='OVER-THE-TOP'
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for over-the-top that I've seen before include "Theatrically excessive" , "To an exaggerated degree" , "Excessively extreme" .)