What does ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ mean?
To “too many cooks spoil the broth” means to too many people working on the same task will ruin it. Brewer's lists this as a familiar English proverb, in print by the 16th century.
Origin
- Brewer's lists this as a familiar English proverb, in print by the 16th century.
How to use it
- Standard warning against overcrowded projects.
- Example: Let just two of you edit it — too many cooks spoil the broth.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.