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Protest Too Much

What Does "Protest Too Much" Mean?

homeidiomsProtest Too Much
"Protest too much" is an English idiom. It means "to express opposition or denial to such an excessive degree that it becomes suspicious or indicates the opposite of what is being claimed."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "protest too much" used in a sentence:
  • His constant praise of the company's ethical standards made some people think he might be protesting too much.
  • Her vehement denial of any wrongdoing started to seem like she was protesting too much.
  • When someone protests too much, it can raise doubts about their sincerity.
meaning for protest too much

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Protest Too Much" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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