in spades

Idioms and Phrases

Considerably, in the extreme; also, without restraint. For example, They were having money problems, in spades , or Jan told him what he really thought of him, in spades . This expression alludes to spades as the highest-ranking suit in various card games, such as bridge, and transfers “highest” to other extremes. [ Colloquial ; 1920s]

Related Words

• clearly
• determinedly
• distinctly
• downright
• positively
• really
• terribly
• unmistakably