en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

Explaining "Too many cooks spoil the broth"

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 03/10/2024, 11:28
English.me team member

What does it mean?

Too many cooks spoil the broth

The phrase means that when too many people are involved in a task or activity, especially when they give conflicting opinions, it can become complicated or result in failure.

Tone

The tone is cautionary and advisory, warning against involving too many people in a task.

Origin

The phrase is a proverbial saying dating back to at least the 16th century, highlighting an idea present in many cultures about collaboration overload leading to inefficiency.

Examples of usage

  • The project failed because too many cooks spoiled the broth with everyone trying to implement their own ideas.
  • When organizing the event, we kept the team small, as we believed too many cooks would spoil the broth.

Recommended posts in Phrases

A friend in need (is a friend indeed)

A friend in need (is a friend indeed)

The phrase "A friend in need is a friend indeed" ... Learn more →

What does not kill me makes me stronger

What does not kill me makes me stronger

The phrase means that experiences which are difficult or painful, ... Learn more →

Haste makes waste

Haste makes waste

The phrase "haste makes waste" means that rushing through tasks ... Learn more →

If it were a snake, it would have bit you

If it were a snake, it would have bit you

An expression used to tell someone that the object they're ... Learn more →