proverb · Words worth keeping
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Too many people directing the same task without clear roles can make the result worse. Conflicting instructions and repeated changes may matter more than the amount of effort contributed.
Example
Five organisers keep rewriting an invitation in different directions, so they appoint one editor to reconcile feedback and approve the final wording.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The cooks stand for people exercising overlapping control, and the broth stands for the shared result. The problem is not that cooperation is inherently bad: it is that incompatible decisions can undo one another. On a project, several people may keep changing the same work without agreeing on a goal or a final decision-maker. Clear responsibilities and a shared plan can resolve that problem. The proverb therefore concerns coordination rather than a fixed ideal team size. It contrasts with sayings that praise sharing the labour when tasks can be divided sensibly.
When to use it
Use it when overlapping authority is causing confusion or inconsistent decisions.
Keep in mind
A large coordinated team may work very well; number alone does not explain a poor outcome.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English