What is the difference "in spades" and "en masse"?
According to the Free Dictionary, "in spades" means: "In large quantity or to an extreme degree".
Examples: A con artist needs charm, and she had it in spades.
This campaign has had drama in spades, but not much discussion of the issues.
"En masse", on the other hand, is defined by the same dictionary as "en masse
In one group or body; all together".
For example, The activists marched en masse to the capitol.
This French term, with exactly the same meaning, was adopted into English about 1800.
The only shared thread between these two phrases is the connotation of large numbers. But I'm curious as to what the difference is.
Top answer
riderdecade25 The only shared thread between these two phrases is the connotation of large numbers I don't see that. "In spades" comes from the card game poker, where if two people have the same flush, the one in spades beats the others. That is not actually part of the rules of poker, but people think it is.
- riderdecade25 The only shared thread between these two phrases is the connotation of large numbers I don't see that.
- "In spades" comes from the card game poker, where if two people have the same flush, the one in spades beats the others.
- That is not actually part of the rules of poker, but people think it is.
- It has nothing to do with numbers.
- If you want a Frenchy equivalent to "in spades", it might be "deluxe" or "par excellence".
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
riderdecade25The only shared thread between these two phrases is the connotation of large numbers
I don't see that. "In spades" comes from the card game poker, where if two people have the same flush, the one in spades beats the others. That is not actually part of the rules of poker, but people think it is. It has nothing to do with numbers. If you want a
0
Related Questions