too many cooks in the kitchen

noun

An excessive number of people trying to complete or manage the same task, and getting in each other's way.

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Meanings

nountoo many cooks in the kitchen pl (plural only)
  1. pluralplural onlyAn excessive number of people trying to complete or manage the same task, and getting in each other's way.
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: too many cooks in the kitchen on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.