an embarrassment of riches
an embarrassment of riches
Too much or more than enough of a desired or needed thing. There are so many stellar applicants for the job that we can't choose between them—it's truly an embarrassment of riches. A: "Look at all the desserts people brought to the party!" B: "Whoa, talk about an embarrassment of riches. I'm gonna stake about a spot close to the dessert table for the rest of the night!" Have you looked at their lineup since the trade deadline? They have so many all-stars now, it's an embarrassment of riches!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
embarrassment of riches
An overabundance of something, too much of a good thing, as in All four of them have their own cars but there's no room in the driveway-an embarrassment of riches . This term originated in 1738 as John Ozell's translation of a French play, L'Embarras des richesses (1726).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
an embarrassment of riches
LITERARYIf you have an embarrassment of riches, you have so many good things or options that you cannot decide which to have or do. With three matches being screened live simultaneously, football fans have an embarrassment of riches to choose from.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
an emˌbarrassment of ˈriches
so many good things that it is difficult to choose just one: Stratford has an embarrassment of riches, what with three theatres and lovely countryside too.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
embarrassment of riches, an
Too much of a good thing, an overabundance. The term is a direct translation from the French, where it first appeared as the title of a comedy by the Abbé Léonor d’Allainval, L’embarras des richesses (1726), translated into English by John Ozell and opening in London in 1738.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer