too beautiful for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too beautiful for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is excessively beautiful for a particular context or situation. Example: "The sunset was too beautiful for words, leaving everyone in awe."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Almost too beautiful for words.

The New York Times

It's almost too beautiful for cycling.

The Guardian - Tech

Can a concert be too beautiful for comfort?

The New York Times - Arts

"You were a little too beautiful for me," I said.

The New Yorker

Was it also too beautiful for him to live with?

The New York Times - Books

Mr. Levaï, who was hidden in the French countryside, once called her "too beautiful for me".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

We might never have got to treasure his favourite bad guys, the too-beautiful-for-his-own-goddamn-good, super-loud young James Remar, and mega-twitchy David Patrick Kelly ("Warriors, come out to play-eeee!"), or that gigantic, brain-rattling explosion in Southern Comfort, which I think may be his masterpiece.

The Guardian - Film

It's too beautiful of a night for me to talk too long".

The New York Times

Audrey White was from a humble background, but became a successful model and author, was turned down for a BBC announcer's job for being deemed "too beautiful", then established financial courses for women, worked for charities and became a lady of the aristocracy.

Independent

The message: She is too beautiful, too perfect for this world.

The New York Times

Except that Pondicherry was just too beautiful and relaxing for it all to be a sham.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "too beautiful for" to express a sense of something's beauty being inappropriate or overwhelming for a specific situation or purpose. For example, "This dress is too beautiful for just a casual outing."

Common error

Avoid using "too beautiful for" in contexts where you simply mean something is very attractive without any implication of inappropriateness or being overwhelming. Opt for simpler adjectives like "very beautiful" or "stunning" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too beautiful for" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, often expressing that something's beauty is excessive, inappropriate, or simply beyond what is expected in a given context. Ludwig confirms this usage, showing it in various descriptive sentences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "too beautiful for" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adjective phrase to express that something’s beauty is excessive or inappropriate in a particular context. Ludwig confirms its wide usage across various sources, predominantly in News & Media. When using this phrase, it's crucial to consider the implied meaning and avoid literal interpretations. Consider alternatives like "exceedingly beautiful for" or "remarkably beautiful for" depending on the nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceedingly beautiful for

Emphasizes the high degree of beauty, replacing "too" with "exceedingly".

overly beautiful for

Suggests an excess of beauty that might be inappropriate or overwhelming.

remarkably beautiful for

Highlights the unusual or noteworthy aspect of the beauty.

exceptionally beautiful for

Focuses on the beauty being an exception to what is expected.

stunningly beautiful for

Emphasizes the striking and impressive nature of the beauty.

incredibly beautiful for

Highlights the beauty as being hard to believe or imagine.

uncommonly beautiful for

Indicates that the beauty is rare or not often seen.

extraordinarily beautiful for

Stresses the beauty as being beyond the ordinary.

supremely beautiful for

Suggests the highest level of beauty possible.

awfully beautiful for

Uses "awfully" in its older sense of "inspiring awe" to describe the beauty.

FAQs

How can I use "too beautiful for" in a sentence?

You can use "too beautiful for" to describe something whose beauty seems out of place or overwhelming for a given context. For example, "That song is too beautiful for a commercial".

What's a less dramatic alternative to "too beautiful for"?

If you want to express admiration without implying inappropriateness, use phrases like "very beautiful", "extremely beautiful", or "stunning".

Is it always negative to say something is "too beautiful for" something else?

Not necessarily. It can also express a sense of awe or wonder, suggesting that something's beauty exceeds expectations or is of such high quality that it seems wasted in its current setting.

Which is correct: "too beautiful for words" or "too beautiful to words"?

"Too beautiful for words" is the correct idiom. It means that something is so beautiful that it's difficult to describe with language. "Too beautiful to words" is grammatically incorrect and doesn't convey the same meaning.