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3. to a fault

to a fault

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to a fault

more than is necessary She was generous to a fault, taking me out to dinner and buying me expensive gifts.

Usage notes: used after an adjective that describes one of someone's good characteristics

See also: fault

to a fault

if someone is generous or has another good quality to a fault, they are very generous or have more of that good quality than other people Nigel was generous to a fault, taking me out to dinner and buying me flowers and chocolates.

See also: fault

to a fault

Excessively, extremely, as in He was generous to a fault. This phrase, always qualifying an adjective, has been so used since the mid-1700s. Indeed, Oliver Goldsmith had this precise usage in The Life of Richard Nash (1762).

See also: fault

to a fault

To an excessive degree: generous to a fault.

See also: fault