one time too many

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "one time too many" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It means that something has happened more times than necessary or desirable. Here is an example: "She forgave him for his mistake once, but when he made the same mistake again, it was one time too many and she ended their relationship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Music

Lifestyle

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"They dropped the ball with me one time too many," the rapper wrote on Twitter.

The Guardian - Music

Of a heart attack in bed, though I have my suspicion that it was brought on by savouring Frances Barber's preposterous décolletage one time too many.

The Guardian

Will we see the ZTE Open here too, priced to attract those diehards who have been hanging on to their old Nokia phones until they drop them one time too many?

The Guardian - Tech

"Many investors believe the Fed usually raises rates one time too many," he said.

The New York Times

Then Mike ruins things one time too many, and I have to have him ejected.

The Guardian - Music

"This is the first time, and that's one time too many, as far as I'm concerned," Sheriff Arpaio said.

The New York Times

You've asked for help one time too many, you cried and broke down and scared them or bored them (or both) once too often.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

After watching Verratti give the ball away one time too many during a 2-0 victory at Dynamo Kiev last season, Ancelotti complained: "It annoys me.

The Guardian - Sport

Liverpool have turned their noses up at Steve Morgan's millions one time too many - he's withdrawn his offer and huffed off to build some houses.

The Guardian - Sport

And there's a sense that this show, perkily directed by Walter Bobbie, may have been through the wash one time too many.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

(The company may have used the word "intimate" one or two times too many at the product's launch).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "one time too many" to express that an action or event has been repeated to an unacceptable degree, often leading to negative consequences.

Common error

While effective, avoid using "one time too many" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one time too many" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the frequency of an action exceeded an acceptable limit. As Ludwig AI explains, this is a valid phrase. The examples show the phrase describing situations where tolerance or endurance has been surpassed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Sport

8%

Books

5%

Less common in

Lifestyle

3%

Wiki

2%

Music

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "one time too many" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey that something has happened more times than is acceptable, often leading to negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reliable sources. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral to informal register. While effective, it's important to avoid overusing the phrase in writing, opting for alternatives like "once too often" or "beyond the limit" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

once too often

Focuses on the action occurring repeatedly to an undesirable degree.

beyond the limit

Emphasizes that a boundary has been crossed.

more than acceptable

Highlights that something has surpassed the threshold of what is permissible or tolerable.

over the line

Indicates that a boundary of appropriate behavior or actions has been crossed.

pushed too far

Suggests that someone has exceeded the limits of endurance or tolerance.

had enough

Expresses a feeling of reaching the limit of one's patience or tolerance.

at the breaking point

Indicates that a situation or person is about to collapse or fail due to excessive stress or pressure.

reached the limit

Highlights that a maximum or acceptable level has been attained.

gone too far

Implies that an action has exceeded reasonable or acceptable boundaries.

more than is wise

Suggests that an action has been repeated beyond the point of prudence.

FAQs

How can I use "one time too many" in a sentence?

Use "one time too many" to indicate that something has happened more times than is acceptable or tolerable, often leading to a negative outcome. For example, "He missed the deadline "one time too many" and lost the client".

What are some alternatives to "one time too many"?

You can use phrases like "once too often", "beyond the limit", or "more than acceptable" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say 'one times too many' instead of "one time too many"?

No, the correct and idiomatic expression is "one time too many". The phrase 'one times too many' is grammatically incorrect and not commonly used.

What does "one time too many" imply in a given situation?

It implies that a limit has been reached and further repetition of an action or event will likely result in negative consequences or a breaking point. This suggests the situation has become untenable.