An embarrassment of riches
Meaning
A situation where one has an excessive amount of desirable options or good things, making choice or management difficult.
Origin
The captivating phrase "an embarrassment of riches" stems directly from the title of a French play, "L'Embarras des richesses," a one-act comedy penned by Florent Carton Dancourt and first performed in 1726. The play itself wasn't about literal wealth, but rather a character entangled in a complex web of secret marriages and conflicting commitments—a predicament of having too many valuable, yet problematic, attachments. However, the title's striking imagery, implying that an abundance of good things could paradoxically create difficulty, immediately resonated. It was soon translated into English, entering the lexicon to describe any situation where an overwhelming bounty of desirable options makes a decision challenging or even problematic, becoming a perfect encapsulation of a distinctly human predicament.
Examples
- The new streaming service offered an embarrassment of riches, making it hard to pick just one show to watch.
- Winning the lottery brought an embarrassment of riches, but also the challenge of deciding how to invest it all wisely.