an embarrassment of riches

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an embarrassment of riches" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation where one has more or more valuable of something than they need or can handle. For example, you could say: "Coming from such a successful family, John has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to possible career paths."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is an embarrassment of riches, although that has never embarrassed the Yankees before.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's an embarrassment of riches.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Its synonyms are an embarrassment of riches.

The New York Times - Books

"It's just an embarrassment of riches.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's an embarrassment of riches," Charnin marvelled.

The New Yorker

Do say: "What an embarrassment of riches!

The Guardian - Music

The pianist confronts an embarrassment of riches.

The New York Times - Arts

Oh yes, an embarrassment of riches.

The Guardian

"We have an embarrassment of riches here," Kubus said.

The New York Times - Sports

Thrill-seekers enjoy an embarrassment of riches here too.

Independent

"It does seem like an embarrassment of riches".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an embarrassment of riches" when you want to convey that there are so many good options available that it creates a dilemma or a challenge in choosing.

Common error

Avoid using "an embarrassment of riches" in purely negative contexts. The phrase implies a positive situation, even if the abundance presents a challenge. If the situation is entirely negative, consider alternative expressions like "a multitude of problems".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an embarrassment of riches" functions as a noun phrase. Ludwig's examples show it describing an abundance of desirable things, situations, or options. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

7%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an embarrassment of riches" is a common idiom used to describe a situation where one has more good things, options, or resources than are necessary or can be easily managed. According to Ludwig, the expression is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It functions as a noun phrase and is most frequently found in News & Media. While the word "embarrassment" might suggest a negative connotation, the phrase is generally positive, highlighting abundance. When using the expression, be mindful to use it only in contexts where the excess, even if challenging, is ultimately a good thing. Consider alternatives like "a wealth of options" or "an abundance of resources" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a wealth of options

Focuses on the abundance of choices available.

an abundance of resources

Highlights the plentiful availability of resources.

a plethora of choices

Indicates a large and excessive amount of options.

a surplus of assets

Emphasizes having more assets than needed.

a profusion of talent

Specifically refers to an overabundance of talented individuals.

an oversupply of goods

Focuses on having too many goods available.

a superabundance of something

Highlights an extreme level of abundance.

too much of a good thing

Suggests that even good things can be problematic in excess.

spoiled for choice

Expresses the difficulty of choosing due to having many attractive options.

awash with opportunities

Indicates being overwhelmed by the number of opportunities available.

FAQs

How can I use "an embarrassment of riches" in a sentence?

You can use "an embarrassment of riches" to describe a situation where there are too many good things to choose from. For example: "The film festival had "a wealth of options", it was "spoiled for choice" and an embarrassment of riches."

What's a similar expression to "an embarrassment of riches"?

Alternatives to "an embarrassment of riches" include "an abundance of resources", "a plethora of choices", or "a surplus of assets", depending on the specific context.

Is "an embarrassment of riches" a positive or negative phrase?

While the phrase contains the word "embarrassment", it generally has a positive connotation. It suggests that there are so many valuable or desirable options that it's almost overwhelming, but in a good way.

Can "an embarrassment of riches" apply to abstract concepts?

Yes, "an embarrassment of riches" can refer to both tangible items and abstract concepts. For example, one might say that a research field has "an embarrassment of riches" in terms of potential avenues for investigation.