to a fault

== English == === Pronunciation === === Adverb === to a fault (not comparable) (idiomatic) To an excessive degree; extremely; counterproductively. Coordinate terms: to an extent; see also Thesaurus:to the full 1710, Isaac Norris, Friendly Advice to the Inhabitants of Pensilvania, Andrew Bradford (Philadelphia), p. 2, He also had that good qualification, of a moderate expectation, almost to a fault. ==== Usage notes ==== "To a fault" is ordinarily used to modify an adjective which describes some desirable or otherwise positive characteristic of a person. Sometimes the expression functions as a strong intensifier, meaning "extremely." Often, however, the expression is used to indicate that the person possesses or exhibits that characteristic in a measure which can reasonably be regarded as disproportionate, unwise, over the top, counterproductive, or annoying. ==== Translations ==== === References === "to a fault" in the Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006. "to a fault" in the Wordsmyth Dictionary-Thesaurus © Wordsmyth 2002. Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989. See "to a fault," under "fault (n.)." Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary, 1987-1996. See "to a fault," under "fault."