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riches

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rags-to-riches

adjective (used before a noun) Characterized by a rise from poverty to great or exceptional wealth. My uncle's is a true rags-to-riches story: he grew up without a penny, but through sheer determination, he founded his own company and is now one of the wealthiest men in the state.

an embarrassment of riches

Too much or more than enough of a desired or needed thing. There are so many stellar applicants for the job that we can't choose between them—it's truly an embarrassment of riches.

See also: embarrassment, of, riches

from rags to riches

Fig. from poverty to wealth; from modesty to elegance. The princess used to be quite poor. She certainly moved from rags to riches. After I inherited the money, I went from rags to riches.

See also: rag, riches

an embarrassment of riches

(slightly formal)

more of something good or pleasant than you need The Internet presents us with an embarrassment of riches when you want information, but how much of it is accurate?

See also: embarrassment, of, riches

an embarrassment of riches

  (formal)

if you have an embarrassment of riches, you have more of something than you need and this makes it difficult for you to make a choice This club has an embarrassment of riches. All their players are good, so who do they pick for their side?

See also: embarrassment, of, riches

go from rags to riches

to start your life very poor and then later in life become very rich People who go from rags to riches are often afraid the good life will be snatched away from them.

See also: rag, riches

embarrassment of riches

An overabundance of something, too much of a good thing, as in All four of them have their own cars but there's no room in the driveway-an embarrassment of riches . This term originated in 1738 as John Ozell's translation of a French play, L'Embarras des richesses (1726).

See also: embarrassment, of, riches

from rags to riches

From being poor to being wealthy, especially through one's own efforts. For example, The invention catapulted the scientist from rags to riches. Horatio Alger (1834-1899) popularized this theme in some 130 best-selling novels, in which the hero, through hard work and thrift, pulled himself out of poverty to wealth and happiness.

See also: rag, riches