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〜にもほどがある

there's a limit to (this is going too far)

Noun / Verb dictionary form + にもほどがある

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にもほどがある is an exasperated "there's a limit to X!", meaning someone has gone way too far: 冗談にもほどがある, "that's taking a joke too far".

It follows a noun (冗談, わがまま, 失礼) or a verb (ふざける, ばかにする). It's usually an angry response to someone's behaviour, often ending the sentence with だ or よ.

ほど means "degree, limit", so it's literally "even X has its proper limit". It's common in conversation and TV dramas. ばかにするにもほどがある, "that's too insulting!", is a very typical line.

Compare にすぎない (N2), "nothing more than", which minimises instead of complaining.

Examples

  • そんなことを言いうなんて、冗談じょうだんにもほどがある。

    Saying something like that is taking a joke too far.

  • 二時間にじかんも遅おくれるなんて、遅刻ちこくにもほどがある。

    Two hours late? There are limits.

  • こんな時ときにふざけるにもほどがある。

    Messing about at a time like this is going too far.

  • 人ひとをばかにするにもほどがある。

    That's far too insulting.

  • 自分じぶんのことばかりで、わがままにもほどがある。

    Thinking only of yourself? There's a limit to how selfish you can be.

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