Generous to a fault

Posted by Zugzwang March 26, 2001In reply to Generous to a fault posted by R. Berg on March 23, 2001

What does the phrase 'generous to a fault' / for one to be generous to a fault for doing something kind for another- mean- exactly?

Ed

The Oxford English Dictionary says that "to a fault" means "to such an extent that it becomes a fault; excessively, extremely." The person who is generous to a fault is one who carries generosity so far that it almost amounts to a flaw or weakness.

A person who is generous to a fault could also be described as a, "do-gooder."