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for good measure

for good measure

13 3.7
A small extra thing you add as a bonus
  • idiom
translation icon : por si acaso
  • She packed an umbrella for good measure, even though the forecast was clear.
  • thrown in for good measure

The whole front of that place just covered in macarons and again, macaroons, macaroonies and again one last time for good measure.

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Examples

How Much

for good measure
13 3.7
in addition
453 1.2
as well
1.0

Surface Forms

good measure positive

Morphology

for + good + measure

The parts 'for' (purpose) + 'good' (suitable) + 'measure' (amount) yield a plausible literal sense of 'for a sufficient/extra amount', so a learner could infer the idea of adding something extra. However, the phrase is a conventionalized idiomatic slot (’for good measure’ = ‘as an extra/bonus’), and that pragmaticized meaning is not fully predictable from the words alone, so it requires some exposure.

Etymology

The phrase for good measure comes from the idea of a cook or baker who adds a little more than needed when they measure, a small extra to be safe. That's why for good measure means 'in addition to what is needed' or an 'extra'.