too good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too good" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to mean that something is so good it is almost too good to be true. For example, "That meal was too good; I think I ate too much!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Too good?

The Economist

She was too good.

The New York Times - Magazine

Too good to last?

The Economist

It's too good.

The New York Times

"He's too good.

The New York Times

But he's too good.

The New Yorker

Too good to die.

The New York Times

We're too good.

The New York Times - Sports

"They're too good".

The New York Times - Sports

Johnson is too good.

The New York Times - Sports

You were too good, just too good".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In conversational contexts, use it to express enthusiastic approval of entertainment or food, effectively acting as a superlative.

Common error

Avoid using "too good" when you simply mean very good in a purely positive sense without any implication of excess. For instance, if you want to compliment a colleague's work without suggesting it is 'excessive', use "so good" or "very good" instead. 'Too' typically implies a limit has been crossed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too good" functions as an adjective phrase where 'too' is an adverb of degree modifying the adjective 'good'. According to Ludwig, it is used to quantify quality in a way that suggests it reaches or exceeds a specific threshold. It frequently appears in the predicative position (e.g., 'He is "too good"') but can also modify nouns when followed by a prepositional phrase or as part of a larger comparative structure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "too good" is a versatile and highly frequent phrase in English that serves both literal and idiomatic purposes. As analyzed by Ludwig, it effectively communicates a level of excellence that transcends the ordinary. While it often functions as a high-intensity compliment in casual settings, it also anchors the common idiom "too good to be true", which serves as a cautionary expression in business and journalism. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is used by top-tier sources like The New York Times and The Guardian to describe everything from sports performance to economic conditions. Writers should use it when they want to convey that a quality has reached an extreme, while opting for "very good" or "exceptionally good" when a more straightforward, strictly positive description is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too good to be true

suggests that something is so excellent it is likely suspicious or unrealistic

exceptionally good

focuses on the high quality without the negative connotation of excess

superb

uses a single superlative adjective to convey a similar level of excellence

excessively good

emphasizes the overwhelming or problematic nature of the quality

outstanding

highlights that the quality stands out from the norm

remarkably good

indicates that the quality is worth noting or surprising

exceedingly good

formal alternative emphasizing that the quality exceeds limits

unusually good

points to the rarity or unexpected nature of the high quality

so good

shifts from a sense of excess to a sense of high-intensity emphasis

peerless

indicates a level of quality that has no equal

FAQs

How do I use "too good" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an overwhelming quality, such as "The deal was "too good to be true"" or "The team played "too good" for their opponents to keep up".

What is the difference between "too good" and "so good"?

While "so good" is a pure intensifier used for high praise, "too good" suggests a level that might be excessive, suspicious, or unbeatable.

Can "too good" be used as a compliment?

Yes, it is often used informally as a high compliment, such as "This dessert is "too good"", implying it's almost addictive or surprisingly delicious.

Is it correct to say "too good of a name"?

Yes, this is a common idiomatic construction. A more formal alternative would be "too good a name", which is frequently seen in literary sources.