but good

English

Pronunciation

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Adverb

but good (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) To a high degree; very thoroughly; in a most definite manner.
   • 1992, Catherine Coulter, The Hellion Bride‎^[1], →ISBN:

     Ryder rode beside her, pleased at her pleasure, knowing that he'd surprised her but good.

   • 2000 October 2, Jessica Reaves, Frank Pellegrini, “For Bush, It's an Expectations Game; For Gore, It's Learning From His (Few) Mistakes”, in Time:

     [T]he debate is a sublime mismatch: He's expected to whip this guy, but good.

   • 2011 August 16, Joe Drape, “Postcards From Saratoga Springs: There’s a Doctor in the Paddock”, in New York Times, retrieved 16 August 2012:

     Dr. Gerald Bortolazzo, or Doc, as he is known, has some story to tell about a horse, his new career as a horseman and how he, if he did not exactly cheat death, fooled it but good.

Usage notes

• When used with this meaning, these two words almost always occur as the final words in a sentence.

Synonyms

• in spades

See also

• and how

References

• “but good”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.