“Doing it in spades” is an idiomatic expression that is commonly used in English to emphasize the extreme or impressive nature of someone’s actions or achievements. The phrase originated from the playing card game of spades, where “spades” is the highest-ranking suit. In this context, “spades” represents excellence, superiority, or absolute success.
When someone says that someone is “doing it in spades,” they mean that the person is excelling or achieving success at an exceptionally high level. The phrase suggests that the person is not just doing well, but rather surpassing expectations or excelling beyond comparison.
The expression is often used to describe someone who is going above and beyond in their efforts or achieving success to an extraordinary degree. It implies that the person is doing something exceptionally well or at a level that is far superior to others.
For example, if someone says, “She’s not just a good singer, she’s doing it in spades,” they are emphasizing that the person is not just talented, but is exceptionally talented and surpassing expectations in their singing abilities.
In summary, the expression “doing it in spades” is used to highlight someone’s exceptional skill, achievement, or success. It conveys the idea that the person is performing at an extraordinarily high level and surpassing expectations in their actions or accomplishments.
What Does the Phrase “Doing It in Spades” Mean?
The phrase “doing it in spades” is an idiom that means doing something to a great degree or with exceptional success. It originates from the card game of spades, where the term “in spades” means winning or achieving something definitively or emphatically.
In the game of spades, players bid on how many tricks they think they can win with their hand. If a player fulfills their bid and wins the expected number of tricks, they are said to have made their bid “in spades.” This signifies that they have achieved their goal beyond any doubt or expectation.
The expression “doing it in spades” has since been adopted in general usage to describe the act of accomplishing something with extraordinary skill, ability, or success. It emphasizes surpassing expectations and achieving an outcome to a remarkable degree.
For example, if someone is described as “doing it in spades” in their profession, it means that they are excelling and achieving great success in their field. It suggests that they are performing at a level that is superior to their peers and impressing others with their exceptional abilities.
In conclusion, the phrase “doing it in spades” means accomplishing something with exceptional success or exceeding expectations. It draws from the card game of spades, where “in spades” denotes winning or achieving something definitively. So when someone is said to be “doing it in spades,” it signifies that they are excelling and achieving to an impressive degree.
Understanding the Phrase
The expression “doing it in spades” is an idiomatic phrase that is used to describe someone doing something to an exceptional degree or exceeding expectations. The origin of the phrase is uncertain, but it is believed to have come from the card game, Bridge.
In the game of Bridge, there are four suits: spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. Each suit has a hierarchy, with spades being the highest-ranking suit. When a player wins a trick with a spade, it is considered a significant accomplishment. Therefore, “doing it in spades” means to achieve something with great success or to surpass what is expected.
The phrase is often used to emphasize someone’s proficiency or excellence in a particular area. For example, if someone is described as “doing it in spades” in their career, it means they are excelling and achieving great success in their profession.
Additionally, the phrase can be used to indicate an abundance or a large quantity of something. If someone says they have “money in spades,” it means they have a substantial amount of money.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Doing it in spades | Doing something to an exceptional degree or exceeding expectations |
| Money in spades | An abundance or a large quantity of money |
| Success in spades | Great success or achievement in a particular area |
In conclusion, the phrase “doing it in spades” is a figurative expression that conveys the idea of exceptional performance or surpassing expectations. It originated from the card game Bridge and is commonly used to describe proficiency, abundance, or excellence in various contexts.
Origin of the Expression
The expression “doing it in spades” has its origins in the card game of bridge. The term “spades” refers to one of the four suits in a standard deck of playing cards.
In bridge, players bid on the number of tricks they believe they can win. If a player has a good hand and is confident in their ability to win a large number of tricks, they may bid aggressively by declaring “in spades.”
The use of the word “spades” in this context implies a high level of confidence and success. It suggests that the player believes they can achieve their desired outcome with ease and certainty.
Over time, the phrase “doing it in spades” has been adopted into everyday language to describe someone who is achieving something to an exceptional degree. It is often used to emphasize that someone is doing something in abundance, with great skill or success.
For example, if someone is described as “doing it in spades,” it means that they are excelling at a particular task or achieving a high level of success in a certain area.
The phrase has extended beyond its original bridge context and is now commonly used figuratively in various contexts to emphasize excellence or abundance.
Usage in Everyday Language
The expression “doing it in spades” is often used in everyday language to emphasize that someone is doing something to an extreme or impressive degree. It can be used to describe various situations or actions, and is commonly used to indicate that someone is excelling or exceeding expectations in their efforts.
For example, if someone is praised for their cooking skills and someone else comments, “They really know how to do it in spades!”, it means that they are exceptionally talented or skilled in cooking.
Similarly, the expression can be used to highlight someone’s effort or enthusiasm in a particular activity. If someone is described as “doing it in spades” when it comes to their job, it means they are going above and beyond in their work performance and exceeding expectations.
Examples
- He took on the project and did it in spades. The results were outstanding.
- She has always been dedicated to her education, and now she’s doing it in spades in college.
- The team worked hard to win the championship, and they did it in spades.
In conclusion, the expression “doing it in spades” is a versatile phrase used to emphasize exceptional or impressive performance or effort in various contexts. It adds emphasis and conveys a sense of exceeding expectations or going above and beyond. It is commonly used in everyday language to convey enthusiasm and admiration for someone’s achievements or actions.
Similar Expressions
There are several similar expressions that convey the same meaning as “doing it in spades.” Here are a few:
1. Doing it with gusto
When someone does something with gusto, they do it with great enthusiasm, energy, and skill. This expression implies that the person is fully committed and gives their all to the task at hand, just like someone who is doing it in spades.
2. Going all out
Going all out means putting in maximum effort or doing something to the fullest extent possible. It is often used to describe someone who is dedicating all their resources, energy, and attention to achieving a goal or completing a task. This expression is similar to doing it in spades as it implies a high level of commitment and determination.
3. Leaving no stone unturned
This expression refers to giving thorough and exhaustive attention to every detail or aspect of something. It means making sure that nothing is overlooked or neglected in the pursuit of a goal. Like doing it in spades, leaving no stone unturned shows a commitment to doing things thoroughly and meticulously.
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Doing it in spades | Doing something to an exceptional degree; doing it with great intensity, skill, or success. |
| Doing it with gusto | Doing something with enthusiasm, energy, and skill. |
| Going all out | Putting maximum effort or doing something to the fullest extent possible. |
| Leaving no stone unturned | Giving thorough and exhaustive attention to every detail or aspect of something. |
Cultural References
The expression “doing it in spades” has its origins in the card game of bridge. In bridge, spades are one of the four suits, and they are typically considered the highest-ranking suit. When a player wins a trick or a hand with spades, they are said to have “taken it in spades.”
Over time, this term has been adopted into colloquial English to describe someone who does something to an extreme or exaggerated degree. The phrase “doing it in spades” implies that the person is not just doing something well, but is doing it exceptionally or with great intensity.
The expression has been popularized in various forms of media, including literature, film, and music. In the 1960s, singer and actor Frank Sinatra popularized the phrase in his song “Luck Be a Lady” from the musical “Guys and Dolls,” where he sings, “Luck, if you’ve ever been a lady to begin with / Luck, be a lady tonight / Luck, let a gentleman see / Just how nice a dame you can be / I know the way you’ve treated other guys you’ve been with / Luck, be a lady with me.” The line “Luck, be a lady” implies that he wants luck to be on his side “in spades,” meaning he wants to have exceptionally good luck.
In contemporary usage, the expression can be heard in everyday conversation or seen in written form, such as in headlines or social media posts. For example, someone might say, “She aced that presentation in spades,” meaning she did exceptionally well. Or a headline might read, “The new superhero movie delivers action in spades,” indicating that the movie has a high level of intense action.
In conclusion, “doing it in spades” is a cultural expression that originates from the card game of bridge. It has since been adopted into colloquial English to describe someone doing something exceptionally or with great intensity. The phrase has been popularized in various forms of media, including music, and is commonly used in everyday conversation.
