Too Much of a Good Thing – Example Sentences

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“Too Much of a Good Thing” is an idiom in the English language that people use in everyday conversation. You have likely used this english expression yourself at some point, but many people don’t know its true meaning. Understand the meaning of this idiom, learn where it came from, and see some example sentences to help you use it in daily conversation.

Meaning of the Idiom

“Too much of a good thing” means that even something positive can become harmful, unpleasant, or undesirable if overdone or excessive.

Origin of the Idiom

This phrase has been used since at least the 16th century and is often attributed to William Shakespeare, who used a similar idea in his play “As You Like It.” Over time, it has become a common expression to caution moderation, even with enjoyable things.

Example Sentences

1. Watching your favorite TV show is fun, but binge-watching for 10 hours is too much of a good thing and can give you a headache.

2. Eating chocolate every day might sound great, but too much of a good thing can lead to health problems.

3. Emily loved her new perfume, but spraying too much of a good thing made it overwhelming for everyone around her.

4. The kids were excited about the all-you-can-eat buffet, but they quickly learned that too much of a good thing can leave you feeling sick.

5. Mark worked extra hours to earn more money, but too much of a good thing left him exhausted and stressed.

How to Use ‘Too Much of a Good Thing’ in Everyday Conversations

Now that you know the meaning and origin of the idiom “too much of a good thing,” let’s see how you can use it in a real-world conversation.

Conversation 1:

Sophie and Mia are talking about their weekend plans.

Sophie: I’ve been eating so much chocolate lately. It’s my absolute favorite.

Mia: Careful, Sophie. Too much of a good thing can make you sick.

Sophie: You’re right. I guess I should slow down before I ruin my love for it.

Mia: Exactly. It’s better to enjoy it in moderation.

Conversation 2:

Mark and Jake are discussing Jake’s workout routine.

Mark: You’ve been hitting the gym every single day for hours. How are you feeling?

Jake: Exhausted, honestly. But I want to make faster progress.

Mark: Be careful. Too much of a good thing can lead to burnout or even injuries.

Jake: Yeah, I’ve noticed my body feels sore all the time. Maybe I need to take a rest day.

Mark: Definitely. Rest is just as important as the workout itself.

Similar Idioms

1. Kill the Goose That Lays the Golden Eggs

Meaning: This idiom warns against destroying something valuable by overexploiting it.

Example: Expanding the small bakery too quickly might kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

2. The Straw That Broke the Camel’s Back

Meaning: This phrase describes a minor addition or action that causes an overwhelming problem when combined with previous stress.

Example: Adding another project to his workload was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Idioms Starting From Letter T

Each and every letter of the English alphabet has hundreds of idioms. As in this post, we are talking about the idiom beginning with the letter T. There are many other idioms that also start with the ‘T’, which can be useful to you. We have gathered all the T-starting idiomatic expressions on a single page to make it easy for you to find the best and most useful idioms starting with the letter T.