# one too many

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/one-too-many
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

One or more servings too many of alcohol, leading to drunkenness.

## Examples

- He had one too many and started acting silly.
- After having one too many at the party, he decided it was time to call a taxi home.
- The guest had clearly consumed one too many, as his speech became slurred and his behavior grew increasingly erratic throughout the evening.

## Origin

From the concept of consuming one drink of an alcoholic beverage too many, first recorded in the early 20th century. The phrase relies on the elision of the noun to imply the specific point at which intoxication transitions from a social state to a medical one.

---

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.