one too many

noun

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see one, too many.

“He's had one too many.”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

noun
  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see one, too many.

    We’ve got three too many.

    1 more example

    Even if one child is hurt that is one too many.

  2. idiomaticOne or more servings too many of alcohol, leading to drunkenness.

    He's had one too many.

Origin

From one drink (of an alcoholic beverage) too many.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish yhden juoman liikaa
  • yhden juoman liikaa(idiomatic) one or more servings too many of alcohol
French un verre de trop
  • un verre de trop(idiomatic) one or more servings too many of alcohol
German einen über den Durst trinken
  • einen über den Durst trinken(idiomatic) one or more servings too many of alcohol
Norwegian Bokmål et glass for mye
  • et glass for mye(idiomatic) one or more servings too many of alcohol
Russian перебор
  • перебор (perebor)(idiomatic) one or more servings too many of alcohol
Spanish unas copas de más
  • unas copas de más(idiomatic) one or more servings too many of alcohol
Cite this entry
APA

one too many. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one%20too%20many

MLA

“one too many.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one%20too%20many. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “one too many,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/one%20too%20many.

Source: one too many on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.