too much bother

USAGE SUMMARY

"too much bother" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe something that is too time-consuming, difficult, or troublesome. For example, "I finally got the project finished, but it was too much bother to get it all done on my own."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

For many such acts, the American mountain can sometimes appear like too much bother, since even superstars can't gain purchase.

The New Yorker

6 MATIJA NASTASIC Another accomplished defensive display from the young Serbian, who was never in too much bother.

Independent

Another player who could be sitting pretty in the clubhouse soon, if he makes it in without too much bother.

The Guardian - Sport

People often tell me caring for the environment is too difficult, too expensive or too much bother.

The Guardian

Brewing temperatures, steeping times, it was too much bother when people were satisfied with a bag of Lipton's.

The New York Times

I suspect that Time Machine will frequently be used to recover files that would just be too much bother to restore with other systems.

MIT Technology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Of course, if it's too much trouble, don't bother.

Los Angeles Times

In practice, Dr. Korn Dabbarensi, Thailand's health minister, said in an interview, seizing a patent is usually too much legal bother; the mere threat normally gets a company to lower its prices.

The New York Times

I tried it, obviously, but quickly lost interest: I guess I just loved playing the game too much to bother with that crap.

TechCrunch

But the United States, in this scenario, is led by politicians who either deny that meteors exist or else argue that trying to stop the meteor would be too hard or disrupt the economy too much to bother.

Vice

"Not too much is bothering me".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "too much bother" when you want to express that something is not worth the effort or is excessively troublesome. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it leans towards informality. To improve clarity, specify what exactly is "too much bother" within your sentence, providing context for the reader.

Common error

While understandable in many situations, avoid using "too much bother" in highly formal documents or professional settings where more sophisticated language might be expected. Substitute it with more formal alternatives like "excessively troublesome" or "unduly burdensome".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too much bother" functions as a subjective assessment, typically serving as a predicate adjective describing a task, situation, or request. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in general English, showcased across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "too much bother" is a commonly used phrase to express that something is excessively troublesome or inconvenient. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness in English. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to informal contexts. Consider more formal alternatives like "excessively troublesome" in professional or academic writing. Common authoritative sources for this phrase include The New York Times and The Guardian, highlighting its usage in news and media. To improve clarity, specify what is considered "too much bother" when using the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more trouble than it's worth

Expresses that the negative aspects outweigh the benefits.

excessively troublesome

Focuses on the level of difficulty and annoyance.

overly inconvenient

Highlights the disruption and lack of ease.

not worth the effort

Emphasizes the disproportion between input and outcome.

a major inconvenience

Highlights how disruptive something is.

a great deal of hassle

Uses a more informal term for difficulty.

more effort than necessary

Stresses that the amount of work is beyond what is reasonable.

too demanding

Highlights that the request or action is seen as excessive.

quite a nuisance

Emphasizes the annoying nature of something.

a huge imposition

Implies that something places an unfair burden on someone.

FAQs

How can I use "too much bother" in a sentence?

You can use "too much bother" to describe something that isn't worth the effort, such as, "Reformatting the document was "too much bother", so I left it as is."

What can I say instead of "too much bother"?

You can use alternatives like "more trouble than it's worth", "too inconvenient", or "not worth the effort" depending on the context.

Is "too much bother" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "too much bother" leans toward informal language. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "excessively troublesome" or "unduly burdensome".

What's the difference between "too much bother" and "too much trouble"?

While similar, "too much bother" emphasizes the annoyance or inconvenience, while "too much trouble" focuses on the difficulty or effort involved. They are often interchangeable, but the nuance can vary slightly depending on the situation.