にもほどがあるGoing far beyond acceptable limits
This expression condemns an action or quality as outrageously excessive: “There is a limit” or “That is going too far.” It is a forceful judgment, not a neutral description of degree.
The limit has been crossed
The speaker treats some reasonable social, practical, logical, or interpersonal limit as having been seriously violated. The surrounding context should therefore make clear what is unacceptable: harm to another person, repeated irresponsibility, extreme inconvenience, or behavior that defies ordinary expectations.
Across nouns, adjectives, and verbs
The attachment is broad, but the force remains the same: each sentence delivers a rebuke rather than merely measuring degree.
人の命に関わることを隠すなんて、冗談にもほどがある。
Hiding something that could affect people’s lives is beyond a joke.
Analyzeいくら時間がないとはいえ、説明が雑にもほどがある。
Even if time is short, this explanation is far too sloppy.
Analyze真冬なのに窓が開けっぱなしで、この部屋は寒いにもほどがある。
The window has been left open in the middle of winter; this room is absurdly cold.
Analyze病人をこんな時間まで働かせるにもほどがある。
There is a limit to how late you can make a sick person work.
AnalyzeA direct personal rebuke
また連絡しなかったの？
You failed to get in touch again?
Analyzeごめん、忙しくて。
Sorry, I was busy.
Analyze忙しいからって、三日も返事をしないにもほどがあるよ。
Being busy is no excuse—going three days without replying is too much.
AnalyzeThe three-day delay establishes why the lack of a reply is being treated as a serious violation rather than a small annoyance.
Ordinary excess versus a forceful rebuke
にもほどがある says that an acceptable limit has been crossed and condemns that fact. By contrast, すぎる can simply describe something as excessive. In the first example, a child has been put at risk, so the rebuke is proportionate; in the second, the coffee is only mildly inconvenient.
More examples
安全点検をせずに営業を続けるなんて、無責任にもほどがある。
Continuing to operate without conducting safety inspections is outrageously irresponsible.
Analyze人の意見を最後まで聞かずに否定するにもほどがある。
There is a limit to dismissing people’s opinions without even hearing them out.
Analyze大事な会議の日程を前日に変えるにもほどがある。
Changing the date of an important meeting the day before is going too far.
Analyze何度注意されても謝らないにもほどがある。
Refusing to apologize even after repeated warnings is beyond the limit.
Analyzeこの料金で座席がこんなに狭いなんて、窮屈にもほどがある。
For this price, these seats are unacceptably cramped.
Analyze一晩中工事の音が続くなんて、うるさいにもほどがある。
Construction noise continuing all night is intolerably loud.
Analyze