one too many

USAGE SUMMARY

"one too many" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a quantity of something that is greater than desired. For example, "I seem to have had one too many beers today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One too many?

The Guardian - Sport

Lionel trains have one too many tracks.

The Washington Post

One lousy one is one too many.

The New York Times - Arts

One death is one too many.

The Guardian - Opinion

The third time was one too many.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

One Dark Age is one too many.

The Guardian - Business

Two universals is one too many.

The New York Times

A second shoe is one too many.

The New York Times

Now we both took one too many".

The New Yorker

Indulged in one too many Coronas?

The Guardian - Travel

"Even one is one too many.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "one too many" to express that a quantity, action, or event has exceeded an acceptable or desirable limit. For instance, "He had one too many drinks and became quite loud."

Common error

Avoid using "one too many" in highly formal or technical writing where a more precise or quantitative term would be more appropriate. Instead of saying "There were one too many errors in the report", specify the exact number or use terms like "excessive" or "numerous".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one too many" functions as an idiomatic expression to indicate that a quantity, action, or occurrence has surpassed a desirable or acceptable limit. Ludwig's examples show its versatility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "one too many" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something has exceeded an acceptable limit. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and the many examples highlight its versatility across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, use "one too many" to convey disapproval or regret over an excess, but consider more precise terms in highly formal settings. Remember, it's best to avoid saying or doing "one too many" things you might later regret!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too much

A more general term for an undesirable quantity or degree.

more than enough

Highlights that the quantity surpasses the required or sufficient level.

an excess of

Directly indicates a surplus or overabundance of something.

more than is necessary

Emphasizes that the quantity exceeds what is required or useful.

excessive amount

Focuses on the quantity being beyond what is acceptable or needed.

a surplus of

Highlights an excess quantity, often in a formal context.

beyond the limit

Stresses the idea of surpassing a defined or acceptable boundary.

over the top

Implies that something is excessive and inappropriate for the situation.

over and above

Suggests an amount that is considerably more than expected or needed.

an embarrassment of riches

Indicates an overwhelming abundance, sometimes to the point of being problematic.

FAQs

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

The phrase "one too many" indicates that something has exceeded a desirable or acceptable limit. For example, you could say, "I think I've eaten "one too many" cookies" or "He asked "one too many" questions."

What's a less informal way to say "one too many"?

For more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "excessive amount", "more than enough", or "an excess of" as alternatives to "one too many". These options provide a similar meaning but with a more professional tone.

Can "one too many" be used for both countable and uncountable nouns?

Yes, "one too many" can be applied to both countable and uncountable nouns, but is most commonly used with countable nouns. You might say "I drank "one too many" cups of coffee" (countable) or, less commonly, "There was "one too much" sugar in my tea" (uncountable). It's more idiomatic to use "too much" with uncountable nouns.

Is it grammatically correct to say "too many ones" instead of "one too many"?

While "too many ones" is grammatically correct, it doesn't convey the same idiomatic meaning as "one too many". "One too many" specifically implies exceeding a limit or boundary, whereas "too many ones" simply refers to a large quantity of the number one.