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What does “too many cooks spoil the broth” mean?

Meaning, example sentences and a quick practice question.

B2

Said when too many people trying to manage the same task causes problems

“Let one person lead the project. Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

From the B2 lesson What's Cooking? (food idioms).

C1

Too many people managing something makes it worse, not better

“Three managers on one small project? Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

From the C1 lesson What's Cooking? (food idioms).

Quick check

What does “too many cooks spoil the broth” mean?

Teaching this phrase?“too many cooks spoil the broth” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks B2 Pack 3 (Money, Food, Work and Travel) and Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 3 (Money, Food, Work and Travel).
See the B2 lesson pack See the C1 lesson pack

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