# to a fault

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/to-a-fault
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To an excessive degree; extremely; counterproductively.

## Examples

- He is generous to a fault.
- She is honest to a fault, so she often tells people things they do not want to hear.
- His dedication to the project was admirable, yet he was perfectionistic to a fault, which caused the team to miss their final deadline.

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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.