protest too much

protest too much  (literary)

if someone protests too much, they tell you more often than is necessary what they feel about a situation so that you start to doubt they are sincere

Usage notes: This phrase comes from Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

He constantly denies there is any autobiographical input in his novels, but does he protest too much?

See also: much, protest

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protest too much

to say something so often that people doubt you are sincere He constantly denies that the book is based on his boss, but does he protest too much?

Etymology: based on “Methinks the lady doth protest too much,” a line from the play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare

See also: much, protest