too much information meaning (informal): definition, etymology

too much information

intj

Etymology The expression was first shortened to "TMI" by former Wall Street Journal reporter Joseph Checkler circa 1988. It was not until the late 1990s however, that the term was popularized by online communities. See also TMI.

Informal An expression indicating that someone has revealed information that is too personal and made the listener or reader uncomfortable.

Too much information! I don't want to hear the details of your surgery.

Informal An expression indicating that someone has imparted an excessive amount of information that cannot be processed in a short amount of time.

Internet, Informal Introduces an expansion of a short answer with additional information that may be extraneous or unnecessary, hinting that it can be ignored if the short answer was sufficient.

Related terms: I'll get my coat, overshare, sharing violation, trauma dump