an embarrassment of possibilities

[GoodTaste]

In addtion to the question of dimentions, string theory suffered from another awkward issue: There appeared to be at least five different theories and millions of ways the extra dimentions could be curled up, which was quite an embarrassment of possibilities for those advocating that string theory was the unique theory of everything.

Source: The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking (p.185)

As I was thinking of the ideas that Hawking expressed about string theory, I remembered it as "which was quite an embarrassment for those advocating that string theory was the unique theory of everything."

I scratched my head about the function of using "of possibilities" there. Can it simply be removed without affecting the grammar or rhetoric? I guess the usage might be a euphemism to imply that such an embarrassment is not that strong. I am not sure.


What does "of possibilities" mean here? Can it be deleted altogether?

 

[Tarheel]

an embarrassment of possibilities -- too many possibilities

 

[tedmc]

There are too many possibilities that contradict the string theory that it becomes embarrasing for those advocating it.

 

[GoodTaste]

an embarrassment of possibilities -- too many possibilities

Too many possibilities as to produce an embarrassment.

 

[5jj]

It has little to do with embarrassment as we understand it today. It is a variation of embarras de richesses.

 

[White Hat]

To further back up 5jj's assertion, here's a definition from thefreedictionary.com: 'an overabundance: an embarrassment of choices at a buffet dinner; an embarrassment of riches'.