embarrassment of choice

USAGE SUMMARY

"embarrassment of choice" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a phrase typically used when there are too many good options and it is difficult to decide which one to pick. For example, "When I walked into the ice cream shop, I was overwhelmed with the embarrassment of choice they had for flavors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

There's certainly an embarrassment of choice.

The Guardian - Opinion

Planning this trip, I had been stymied from embarrassment of choice.

The New York Times - Travel

I'd say that the embarrassment of choice represented by Cosmo (and every other women's magazine), "Sex and the City" (and every other girls-only book/TV show/movie), advice columns, and self-help books is really just an illusion of choice — or, as the theologian Oswald Chambers put it, "There is a darkness which comes from too much light".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Again, we faced an embarrassment of choices.

The New York Times - Travel

Such an embarrassment of choices seems a lot to take in, bewildering even some pros.

The New York Times

If you don't have one left over from your college days, any good bookstore, new or used, will offer an embarrassment of choices for a few bucks — Oxford, Penguin, Norton, etc.

The New York Times - Books

IT'S COMPLICATED Meryl Streep faces an embarrassment of choices in a new comedy written and directed by Nancy Meyers: does she have an affair with her remarried ex-husband (Alec Baldwin) or succumb to the shy charms of her architect (Steve Martin)?

The New York Times

You will have an embarrassment of choices.

Huffington Post

That sort of embarrassment of choices is a trend we'd like to see continue here.

Los Angeles Times

If so, what an embarrassment to be kidnapped in possession of choice pieces of ladies' underwear?

Forbes

It's difficult to pick out a choice quote; the cable offers an embarrassment of riches.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "embarrassment of choice" to convey a sense of overwhelming abundance when selecting from numerous favorable options. It implies a positive problem.

Common error

Avoid using "embarrassment of choice" when the abundance of options leads to paralysis or dissatisfaction rather than simple indecision. Ensure the options are all appealing; otherwise, it's merely a difficult choice, not an embarrassment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "embarrassment of choice" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it often describes a situation with numerous attractive alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "embarrassment of choice" is a noun phrase used to describe a situation where an individual faces a difficult decision due to the availability of numerous appealing options. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, conveying a sense of a positive dilemma. While not overly common, it is a recognized and understood idiom, offering a nuanced way to express the challenges of abundance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abundance of options

Focuses on the plentiful nature of the choices available.

wealth of alternatives

Highlights the richness and variety of the available choices.

plethora of possibilities

Emphasizes the vast number of potential options.

too many options to choose from

Directly states the problem of having excessive choices.

overabundance of choices

Highlights the excessive amount of choices available.

a surplus of options

Indicates that the number of options is more than what is needed.

embarrassment of riches

Broader term applicable to an overabundance of anything desirable, not just choices.

wide array of options

Focuses on the diversity and range of available choices.

an excess of possibilities

Highlights the surplus and abundance of available possibilities.

difficulty in choosing

Shifts the focus to the difficulty caused by having many options.

FAQs

How can I use "embarrassment of choice" in a sentence?

You can use "embarrassment of choice" to describe a situation where there are too many appealing options, making it difficult to decide. For example: "The menu offered an embarrassment of choice, so I had trouble deciding what to order."

What's the difference between "embarrassment of choice" and "difficult choice"?

"Embarrassment of choice" implies that all options are good, while a "difficult choice" /s/difficult+choice simply means that the decision is hard, regardless of the quality of the options.

Is "embarrassment of choices" or "embarrassment of choice" more correct?

Both "embarrassment of choice" and "embarrassment of choices" /s/embarrassment+of+choices are acceptable, but "embarrassment of choice" is more common and idiomatic.

What are some alternatives to "embarrassment of choice"?

Alternatives include "abundance of options" /s/abundance+of+options, "wealth of alternatives" /s/wealth+of+alternatives, or "plethora of possibilities" /s/plethora+of+possibilities.