all too
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adverb:
- To a high or excessive degree; very; regrettably: Used to emphasize that something is true to a greater extent than is desirable or pleasant, often implying a sense of regret, concern, or that something is overly common.
Usage
- The phrase "all too" is used to modify adjectives or adverbs, intensifying their meaning in a negative or lamenting context. It suggests that the quality described is excessive or more prevalent than one would wish.
- It typically precedes the adjective or adverb it modifies (e.g., all too common, all too quickly).
Examples
- Adverb:
- The ending of that movie was all too predictable. (It was regrettably very predictable.)
- Summer vacation passed all too soon. (It passed very quickly, and I wish it hadn't.)
- These kinds of accidents are all too frequent. (They happen with a regrettably high frequency.)
Advanced Usage
- "all too often": Used to complain that something happens more frequently than it should.
- All too often, important details are overlooked in the planning phase.
- "all too easy": Used to suggest that something is deceptively or unfortunately simple to do.
- It is all too easy to blame others for our own mistakes.
- "all too aware": Used to emphasize a full, and often uncomfortable, understanding of something.
- I am all too aware of the risks involved.
Variants and Related Words
- Only too (adv): Very, and often willingly. Can be similar but sometimes lacks the strong negative connotation of regret.
- I would be only too happy to help. (This expresses willingness, not regret.)
- All so (adv): An informal or dialectal variant meaning "very."
- It was all so confusing. (This is less formal and doesn't carry the "regrettable" nuance.)
Synonyms
- Regrettably: In a way that inspires regret; unfortunately.
- Unfortunately: Used to express regret or disappointment about a situation.
- Excessively: To a greater degree than is necessary, normal, or desirable.
- Painfully: (Informal, as an intensifier) Very; extremely (e.g., ).
Related Phrases
- All too familiar: Regrettably very well known or recognized, usually from unpleasant experience.
- The feeling of disappointment was all too familiar.
- All too real: Emphasizes that something, often something negative, is undeniably true or existent.
- The threat of climate change is all too real.
Adverb
- to a high degree
- she is all too ready to accept the job