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.
See also: embarrassment, of, riches
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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).
See also: embarrassment, of, riches
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

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.
See also: embarrassment, of
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • an embarrassment of riches
  • embarrassment
  • embarrassment of riches, an
  • riches
  • stellar
  • under control
  • professional
  • professional student
  • come down to the line
  • in line for
References in periodicals archive
There's an embarrassment of riches in the middle with Dylan Watts, Aaron McEneff, Jack Byrne and Ronan Finn leading the way.
Beside the embarrassment of riches in terms of prize money, there is a lot to look forward to over the next six months as most of the country's 63 racecourses get set to go into action.
The Reds boss has an embarrassment of riches going forward following the PS36.9million signing of Mohamed Salah and the imminent return to fitness of Sadio Mane.
San Beda brandished its embarrassment of riches anew and whipped Letran, 75-63 to remain unbeaten in the 2017 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
A veritable embarrassment of riches for history buffs, this work traces the path to the end of WWII.
Arsene Wenger's embarrassment of riches with regards to attacking options looks to have forced Podolski to go elsewhere in search of first team football.
COMPARED to his Cardiff City counterpart Russell Slade, Gary Rowett has not quite an embarrassment of riches but definitely a wealth of options at his disposal this weekend.
BIRMINGHAM City manager Gary Rowett praised his team's effort for withstanding Norwich City's 'embarrassment of riches' at the end of a demanding week.
Aidan O'Brien has an embarrassment of riches for 2015, including Ol' Man River, who was duly cut to 8-1 joint-favourite, from 14-1, with Ladbrokes for the Investec Derby and to 10-1 (from 16s) for the Qipco 2000 Guineas.
The opening night alone features Arcade Fire, Elbow, and Lily Allen on the iconic Pyramid Stage while Saturday's line-up is an embarrassment of riches, with Metallica, Robert Plant, Lana Del Rey and countless others.
The Mourneview Park men have an embarrassment of riches up front with Guy Bates, Tiarnan Mulvenna and David Rainey already at the club and Hamilton could now focus solely on his duties off the pitch.
In putting together this month's magazine we faced the usual embarrassment of riches. We have interviews with some of the North East people involved in War Horse, one of the great theatrical success stories of recent years, and with the Talbots, Bryan and Mary, who have followed up their success in the Costa Book Awards with another great book, this time about the suffragettes.
Says curator David Leopold, "Putting together this show has been a curator's dream, as it is an embarrassment of riches. I always maintain that Hirschfeld was not the best at what he did--he was the only one who did what he did."
NEIL LENNON claims Juventus didn't need to sign Nicolas Anelka because they already have an embarrassment of riches up front.