once too many

USAGE SUMMARY

'once too many' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something has happened or been done one time too often. For example, "I've had to deal with their arguing once too many, and I'm fed up!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Yet this time it was once too many.

The Guardian - Sport

The stiff towels seemed washed once too many times.

The New York Times - Travel

I had disturbed the news on television just once too many times.

The Guardian

Where once too many companies did too many things in different sectors, a brusque rationalisation has taken place, says James Ableggen, a business academic.

The Economist

Too many things going on at once, too many choices, can overwhelm a child with autism, who finds it easier to focus on one thing at a time.

The New York Times

"To falsify returns once is once too many – to falsify 252 times represents a pattern of behaviour which should lead to a full review," Dorrell said.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

David Cameron once said "too many tweets might make a twat".

The Guardian - Tech

Of war he once said: "Too many died.

The Guardian

We've both had broken hearts (Farrah, once; me, too many times to admit).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

After World War II it was opened to civilian traffic, only to be closed almost at once when too many vehicles ended up broken down at the side.

The New York Times - Science

Alabama committed five penalties, was guilty of poor clock management in the first half and once had too many players on the field.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "once too many" to clearly convey that a limit has been exceeded, creating a sense of frustration or finality.

Common error

Avoid using "once too many" when simply indicating a high frequency of events without the implication of a limit being surpassed. Ensure the context suggests that a boundary has been crossed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "once too many" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action has been performed excessively or beyond a tolerable limit. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "once too many" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that conveys frustration or the reaching of a limit. Ludwig AI supports this, showing its common usage in various contexts, particularly in News & Media. It's suitable for both formal and informal settings, though primarily employed to describe negative situations where a boundary has been surpassed. Related phrases include "one time too many" and "enough is enough". When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly indicates that a limit has been crossed to avoid misinterpretation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one time too many

Replaces "once" with "one time", emphasizing the specific instance.

one time too far

Similar to "one time too many" but uses "far" to emphasize distance or boundary.

more than is acceptable

Shifts from a specific count to a general statement of unacceptability.

more than is reasonable

Indicates that something has exceeded the bounds of reason.

past the point of endurance

Emphasizes the limit of one's ability to tolerate something.

beyond what is tolerable

Similar to "past the point of endurance" but focuses on general tolerability.

pushed to the limit

A more figurative way of saying that a boundary has been crossed.

to an excessive degree

Highlights the excessiveness of the action or event.

over the line

Uses a sports metaphor to indicate a boundary violation.

enough is enough

A concise way of expressing that a limit has been reached.

FAQs

How can I use "once too many" in a sentence?

You can use "once too many" to indicate that something has happened or been done one time too often, suggesting a limit has been reached. For example, "I've warned him about his behavior "one time too many", and now I'm taking action."

What are some alternatives to "once too many"?

Alternatives include phrases like "one time too far", "more than is acceptable", or "enough is enough", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "once too many" formal or informal?

"Once too many" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in news and media or general conversation. It's generally suitable for most writing situations.

Can I use "once too many" to describe a positive event?

While technically possible, "once too many" is typically used in negative contexts to express frustration or the reaching of a limit of tolerance. Using it for a positive event might sound unusual or sarcastic.