for one's own good

English

Prepositional phrase

for one's own good (not comparable)

1. To an excessive extent or degree, especially to the extent that it is negative, gets in the way, etc.

Usage notes

• Used in the construct too ... for one's own good.

See also

• by half

Further reading

• “too nice clever etc for your own good” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.
• “for one’s own good”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “too clever nice generous etc for your own good” (US) / “too clever nice generous etc for your own good” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.
• “for your own good safety benefit etc” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.