in spades

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in spades

/ɪn ˈspeɪds/ US, UK

Where it comes from

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.

phrase

idiomatic 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.
Similar: in droves, abundantly, but good
idiomatic Beyond doubt.

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MLA

"in spades." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/in%20spades. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

in spades. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/in%20spades

Chicago

"in spades." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/in%20spades.

BibTeX

@misc{in_spades_2026,
  title = {in spades},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/in%20spades},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}