embarrassment of options

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "embarrassment of options" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone has too many choices, leading to confusion or difficulty in making a decision. Example: "When it came to choosing a restaurant for dinner, I felt an embarrassment of options, as there were so many great places to choose from."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Basically, the Giants had an embarrassment of options in his specialist position.

Independent

(Clintonworld, meanwhile, has been consumed by an embarrassment of options — namely, whether she should spend her money to run up the score or to help other candidates down-ballot).

The New Yorker

People don't eat enough fruit and vegetables, that's despite an embarrassment of options today that include fast grocery delivery and takeout services with a focus on health.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The multitude of options may provide an embarrassment of riches to managers.

Nature

Democratic Last Resorts: The Recall Option The Embarrassment of President Trump Behind the Scenes of Harvey Weinstein's Arrest Seven Signs that Your Man's Masculinity Is Nontoxic Trump Furious After Nobel Committee Gives Him Participation Trophy In the Trump Era, We Are Losing the Ability to Distinguish Reality from Vacuum Subscribe to The New Yorkerfor only $1 a week.Plus, get a free tote.

The New Yorker

Embarrassment of riches To further emphasise the options a manager has at his disposal, the international caps and transfer fees of his substitutes are gleefully totted up to illustrate his embarrassment of riches, often (rather aptly) while they are being humbled by a side who were assembled for the price of a four-bedroom house.

The Guardian - Sport

Led by the intelligent and enthusiastic Darren Sammy, they had the perfect group of players to choose from to win a T20 tournament - powerful hitters and an embarrassment of riches when it comes to bowling options.

BBC

With the widespread rollout of four dockless bike-share fleets adding to an established Capital Bikeshare network, a subway system, and multiple car-sharing options, D.C. suddenly has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to non-car transportation.

The Washington Post

For variety, they could also use other "FD -initialed phrases like "FD -initialed and "FLAGRANT DODGER!" Of course, Cheney is seemingly incaphrasesf embarrassment, so another option woulikee to give him FRAIDYORE DICKrments.

Huffington Post

The Obama administration avoids the immediate embarrassment of having Congress hand it a defeat and now has an opportunity to exhaust its diplomatic options.

The Washington Post

The embarrassment of the swans.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "embarrassment of options" when you want to convey not just a large number of choices, but also the potential difficulty or feeling of being overwhelmed by them. For example, "The new streaming service offers an embarrassment of options, making it hard to decide what to watch."

Common error

Avoid using "embarrassment of options" when you simply mean a feeling of shame or awkwardness. "Embarrassment" alone refers to that feeling, while "embarrassment of options" describes having too many choices. Use the phrase to specifically refer to decision-making difficulties due to overabundance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "embarrassment of options" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. Ludwig's examples show it describing situations where a large number of choices exist.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science & Research

16%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "embarrassment of options" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe a situation with too many choices, potentially leading to difficulty in deciding. Ludwig's analysis indicates the phrase is most frequently used in news and media contexts and carries a neutral tone. While not exceptionally common, it effectively conveys the sense of being overwhelmed by choices. To avoid confusion, ensure it's distinct from simple "embarrassment", which refers to a feeling of shame. Consider alternatives like "abundance of choices" or "plethora of options" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abundance of choices

Focuses on the plentiful nature of options, rather than the potential difficulty in choosing.

plethora of options

Emphasizes a large quantity of options, similar to "abundance" but slightly more formal.

wealth of choices

Implies a positive situation with many valuable options.

overabundance of options

Highlights that the number of options is excessively high.

surfeit of options

Suggests an excessive amount, potentially leading to waste or difficulty.

too many choices

A more direct and simple way of expressing the same concept.

an excess of options

Similar to "surfeit" and "overabundance", indicating more options than necessary.

a wide array of choices

Focuses on the variety and range of options available.

multiple alternatives

Highlights the existence of several different possibilities.

numerous possibilities

Simply indicates that there are many potential options.

FAQs

What does "embarrassment of options" mean?

It means having so many choices that it becomes difficult to decide. The phrase suggests a positive problem – an overabundance rather than a lack.

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

You can say something like, "Faced with an "abundance of choices", I couldn't decide which phone to buy" or "The menu presented an embarrassment of options, making it difficult to choose a dish."

What's a good alternative to "embarrassment of options"?

Alternatives include "wealth of choices", "plethora of options", or simply saying "too many choices."

Is "embarrassment of riches" the same as "embarrassment of options"?

While similar, "embarrassment of riches" generally refers to having an abundance of valuable assets or qualities, while "embarrassment of options" specifically refers to having too many choices available. Although can be used interchangeably.