English

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Prepositional phrase

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by half

  1. (colloquial) By far; by a long chalk; to an excessive extent or degree, especially to the extent that it is negative, gets in the way, etc.
    Little Miss Smartyboots is too clever by half.
    • 2012 November 9, Decca Aitkenhead, “Robbie Coltrane: ‘I take no nonsense’”, in The Guardian[1]:
      He and two friends were known as “the three pseuds” among the rest of the boys, who thought them too clever by half.

Usage notes

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  • Used in constructs like too ... by half and not ... enough by half.
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See also

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