Too many cooks spoil the broth

Meaning

The idiom "too many cooks spoil the broth" means that too many people working on a project or task can make it unsuccessful. It is used to suggest that it is important to have clear roles and responsibilities, and to avoid overcrowding or duplication of effort. The figurative meaning suggests that just as too many cooks can spoil a broth by adding too many ingredients or overcooking it, too many people working on a project can create confusion, misunderstandings, and delays.

Usage

• "The team struggled to complete the project on time because there were too many cooks spoiling the broth."
• "I tried to delegate tasks among my colleagues, but they just kept stepping on each other's toes and making things worse."
• "We needed to clarify roles and responsibilities before we started working on this project; otherwise, we risked having too many cooks spoiling the broth."
• "I saw this happening in my previous job - everyone wanted to be involved in every decision, but it led to too many cooks spoiling the broth."
• "We need to streamline our processes and avoid overcrowding; otherwise, we risk having too many cooks spoil the broth."

Roots and History

The idiom is believed to have originated in the 16th century, when cooks were typically paid by the amount of food they produced. If there were too many cooks working on a pot of broth at the same time, it could lead to overcooking or burning, which would spoil the broth and reduce the pay for all involved. Therefore, it was important to have clear roles and responsibilities and avoid overcrowding in the kitchen. Over time, the idiom has taken on a more metaphorical meaning and is used in various contexts beyond cooking. It is often used in business and management to suggest the importance of clear roles and responsibilities and avoiding duplication of effort.

Synonyms in English

• "Too many hands spoil the work."
• "Too many cooks make a broth foul."
• "Too many people involved can make things go wrong."
• "Overcooking can spoil the broth."
• "A crowded kitchen can lead to confusion and mistakes."

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - "Muchos cocinadores rompen la sopa"
• French - "La tropette du cuisinier peut ruiner la soupe"
• German - "Zu vielen Köcheln können die Suppe vergessen werden"
• Italian - "Troppo molti cucinatori possono rovinare la zuppa"
• Japanese - "多数の人が食べるためにも、煨いはしてくるだけです。" (Datano ni hara ga taberu tame ni mo, hagotta kuru dake desu.)

Similar Idioms

• throw dust in eyes

• take it on the chin

• throw the baby out with the bathwater