to a fault
13
7.1
- idiom
:
excesivamente
- And this guy was generous to a fault.
- generous to a fault
- loyal to a fault
- honest to a fault
Above all, it is an inspiring book that is passionate to a fault and is soundly reasoned.
- Above all, it is an inspiring book that is passionate to a fault and is soundly reasoned.
- And I'm such, I'm a perfectionist to a fault.
- Understand your history, understand it, but don't respect it to a fault.
- Most people in narcissistic relationships are empathic and flexible to a fault.
- I think people should be, you know, generally honest, even to a fault.
- You know, it's like, yeah, sometimes people are like loyal to their town to a fault.
- I don't spend a lot of time looking at metrics and analytics, maybe to a fault.
- Like I'm, I overthink things to a fault, but the, the in some areas of my life, that's a problem.
- My style has always been very jazz based to a fault in many ways, but that I would feel constricted by any script.
- It's something kids are so honest to a fault.
- You will never be free of me unless my freedom is generous to a fault.
- He honors that of his promise to a fault.
- The imposter for golden children to a fault.
- Loyal to me is I'm as loyal as it gets almost to a fault.
Examples
-
A lobby boy is, above all, discreet to a fault.
-
He was so loyal to a fault, you know.
-
I think he was honest, maybe to a fault at times in this book.
-
"But he is also fair to a fault."
Fiction book (1999) -
Your father was loving, kind and generous to a fault.
-
As Guy has admitted over the years, he is anxious to please, to a fault.
Academic text (2002) -
Well, when you're at war, you need people who are loyal to a fault.
-
Supremely confident and sometimes competitive to a fault, he worked long hours and expected those around him to work even longer ones.
Fiction book (2002) -
At church, he hovered around Ruth like a fly, attentive to a fault.
Fiction book (2002) -
He was kind to a fault, always putting others' needs before his own.
Synonyms
189
3.5
To a degree that is too much or not wanted
32
3.0
To a degree that is more than needed or acceptable
21
6.9
More than is reasonable or necessary
7
7.5
To a much greater degree than is normal
Antonyms
How Extreme
Surface Forms
Morphology
to + a + fault
The phrase uses 'fault' (a defect) metaphorically to indicate a quality present to such an extent that it becomes a flaw, so a learner who knows 'fault' can plausibly infer an excessive degree. However, the fixed prepositional pattern and idiomatic use mean the exact evaluative sense is not fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
To a fault comes from the idea of fault meaning a 'flaw'; imagine someone so generous or honest that this good quality starts to cause problems. That's why to a fault means 'to an extreme' or 'too much' of a usually good quality.