embarras de richesses

American  

[ahn-ba-rahd^uhree-shes] / ɑ̃ ba rɑdəriˈʃɛs /

noun

French.

1. embarrassment of riches; confusing overabundance.

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embarras de richesses British  

/ ɑ̃bara də riʃɛs /

noun

1. Also: embarras de choix.  a superfluous abundance of options, from which one finds it difficult to select

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Etymology

Origin of embarras de richesses

C18: literally: embarrassment of riches

Example Sentences

It was an embarras de richesses rarely met with; and in the rich and precious braids the ivory fingers were clutched, dishevelling them, tearing at them, in the excess of pain.

From Dr. Dumany's Wife by Jókai, Mór

So great, however, is the number of similar, but apparently independent, structures, that we suffer from a perfect embarras de richesses.

From On the Genesis of Species by Mivart, St. George

I do not know that this embarras de richesses is altogether to your credit, but so it is.

From For the Cause by Weyman, Stanley J.

The only difficulty in such embarras de richesses of subject and such scantiness of time, is to decide what not to do.

From A Holiday in the Happy Valley with Pen and Pencil by Swinburne, T. R.

As I say, the train was, by the time we reached Wynberg, simply choked with luxuries—some of them quite unsuitable for wounded men—a veritable embarras de richesses.

From With Methuen's Column on an Ambulance Train by Bennett, Ernest N.