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The meaning and origin of the expression: Too much of a good thing

Too much of a good thing

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What's the meaning of the phrase 'Too much of a good thing'?

Excess may do you harm.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Too much of a good thing'?

The meaning and origin of the phrase 'Too much of a good thing'The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations lists this phrase as proverbial and dates it from the late 15th century. Th earliest example that I can find of it in print is from Shakespeare's As You Like It, 1600:

ROSALIND: Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing?
Come, sister, you shall be the priest and marry us.
Give me your hand, Orlando. What do you say, sister?

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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