embarras de richesses
C2Formal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
An overabundance of desirable choices or resources to the point of inconvenience or difficulty in choosing.
A state of having more of a good thing than one can effectively manage or use, leading to confusion, indecision, or a feeling of being overwhelmed by options.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A French loan phrase used in English to convey a specific kind of luxurious or positive dilemma. It is not used to describe a burdensome excess of problems or negative things.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common and established in British English, often encountered in journalism and literary criticism. In American English, it is more likely to be found in high-register writing and intellectual discourse.
Connotations
Carries an erudite, slightly sophisticated, and sometimes ironic tone in both varieties. It implies the user is literate and well-read.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but marginally higher in UK publications.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] faced/has/suffers from an embarras de richesses of [plural noun]It was an embarras de richesses.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “An embarrassment of riches (the direct English calque).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might describe a company with too many profitable investment opportunities.
Academic
Used in humanities (art, literature, history) to discuss periods of abundant creative output.
Everyday
Very rare. Used humorously about trivial choices (e.g., dessert menu).
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The film festival offered an embarras de richesses, with over twenty excellent movies screening at the same time.
- Faced with an embarras de richesses in the archive, the historian struggled to select which primary documents to focus on for her monograph.
- The curator's problem was one of embarras de richesses; the gallery simply could not display all the masterpieces donated.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a rich person ('richesses') in a luxury shop, so embarrassed ('embarras') because they can't choose between all the wonderful things.
Conceptual Metaphor
ABUNDANCE IS WEALTH; TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING IS A BURDEN.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "неловкое положение" or "смущение." The 'embarrassment' is not shame but an awkward situation caused by excess.
- The phrase is a fixed unit; do not translate word-for-word.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'embarass de richesses', 'embarras de richesse'.
- Misusing it for a problematic excess of negative things.
- Pronouncing 'richesses' as /rɪˈtʃesɪz/.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'embarras de richesses' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'embarrassment of riches' is the direct English translation and synonym, and is more commonly used. The French phrase is considered more erudite.
No. It specifically describes an overabundance of good or desirable things that makes choosing difficult. For negative excess, use 'plethora' or 'surfeit' without the positive connotation.
In the accepted anglicized pronunciation, it is /ˈriː.ʃes/ (REE-shes), with a silent final 's'. The original French pronunciation is closer to /ʁi.ʃɛs/.
Yes, as it is a foreign phrase not fully assimilated into English, it is conventionally written in italics: *embarras de richesses*.