# embarrassment of riches

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/embarrassment-of-riches
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An abundance or overabundance of something; too much of a good thing.

## Examples

- We have an embarrassment of riches when choosing a vacation spot.
- The chef faced an embarrassment of riches with so many fresh ingredients available in the garden.
- The university library offers an embarrassment of riches for researchers, providing access to rare historical documents and extensive digital archives alike.

## Origin

Calque of French embarras des richesses, from John Ozell's 1738 translation of a French play, L'Embarras des richesses (1726) by Léonor Jean Christine Soulas d'Allainval.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.