in spades

prep_phrase
/ɪn ˈspeɪds/US

Etymology

From the card game of bridge, in which spades is the highest suit. Perhaps influenced by phrases with similar meaning, in spadefuls or in spate.

Definitions

  1. In large quantities

    In large quantities; to a high degree; to excess, without restraint.

    • Last year we harvested almost no potatoes, but this year we're getting them in spades.
    • "He is three times that bad in spades," I said. "He ain't washed his socks in four months for one thing," […]
    • Character the hotel has in spades. It begins at the parking lot, where bison roam.
  2. Beyond doubt.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for in spades. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA