Phrase guide

to a fault

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adv

Meaning 1

To an excessive degree; extremely; counterproductively.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, not-comparable

Examples

  • I am trusting to a fault.
  • 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.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • too big

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: excessively, overly, too

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: liiaksi asti — to an excessive degree; extremely
  • French: à l'excès — to an excessive degree; extremely
  • Hungarian: túlzottan — to an excessive degree; extremely
  • Hungarian: túlságosan — to an excessive degree; extremely
  • Hungarian: túlontúl — to an excessive degree; extremely
  • Spanish: hasta decir basta — to an excessive degree; extremely
  • Spanish: al extremo — to an excessive degree; extremely