joy in spades

4.8

A very large amount of happiness

idiom

Informal

: alegría a raudales

She found joy in spades when her grandchildren came to visit.

Examples

The children found joy in spades at the amusement park.
The festival brought joy in spades to the small town every summer.
After winning the award, the whole team was filled with joy in spades.
They experienced joy in spades during the festival.
After winning the award, the whole team was filled with joy in spades.
She found joy in spades when her grandchildren came to visit.
The children found joy in spades at the amusement park.

Synonyms

happiness

vsjoy in spades

970 1.0

A feeling of pleasure and being satisfied

is about an especially large amount rather than this general mild state

joy

vsjoy in spades

793 1.0

A strong feeling of great happiness

emphasizes extreme abundance rather than a single deep feeling

bliss

vsjoy in spades

78 3.2

A complete feeling of great happiness and peace

is about a very large amount rather than a steady perfect state

euphoria

vsjoy in spades

45 6.8

A very strong feeling of happiness and excitement

expresses a very large amount without suggesting irrational intensity

glee

vsjoy in spades

34 1.0

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement

is lighter playful happiness rather than a very large abundant amount

exuberance

vsjoy in spades

27 6.7

A feeling of strong, happy energy and excitement

focuses on energy and action rather than pure abundance of feeling

elation

vsjoy in spades

18 5.5

A very happy and excited feeling after a big success

tends to be a sudden high feeling rather than constant abundant happiness

exhilaration

vsjoy in spades

17 5.8

A strong, happy feeling of excitement

leans toward energetic thrill rather than a steady very large amount

jubilation

vsjoy in spades

11 5.2

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement during a celebration

is about a very large amount rather than being tied to celebration

gladness

vsjoy in spades

9 1.0

A feeling of being happy and pleased

is about a very large amount rather than mild everyday contentment

rejoicing

vsjoy in spades

6 2.8

Great joy and celebration after good news or success

is about a very large amount rather than the act of celebrating

exultation

vsjoy in spades

Formal

3 7.9

A strong feeling of great joy often shown by loud shouts

is more about proud triumph than about sheer abundance of feeling

joyfulness

vsjoy in spades

1 2.0

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement

is about a very large amount rather than regular cheerful mood

pure bliss

vsjoy in spades

1 3.7

A feeling of complete happiness

describes a very large amount rather than a calm complete state

jubilance

vsjoy in spades

1 6.5

A strong feeling of great joy that people show openly

focuses on strong feeling rather than sheer quantity of happiness

joyousness

vsjoy in spades

1 3.0

A strong feeling of great happiness

focuses on general fullness of feeling rather than sheer large quantity

complete and utter joy

vsjoy in spades

2.8

A very strong feeling of deep happiness

emphasizes a very large amount rather than a single complete state

effusion of joy

vsjoy in spades

7.3

A sudden strong burst of joy that people feel or show

focuses on quantity rather than outward expressive pouring

jubilancy

vsjoy in spades

8.1

A strong feeling of great joy after success

emphasizes triumphful feeling rather than just a very large amount

gleefulness

vsjoy in spades

3.5

A strong feeling of happy excitement that makes you smile

is more playful and light rather than indicating a very large amount

gladsomeness

vsjoy in spades

Archaic

8.9

A feeling of great happiness and pleasure

is milder and calm rather than declaring a very large abundant feeling

joyance

vsjoy in spades

Archaic

9.9

Great happiness and lively celebration with singing and dancing

is an informal abundance focused phrase rather than literary expressive usage

infectious joy

vsjoy in spades

4.4

A strong happiness that spreads to others and makes them smile

adds the idea of contagiousness rather than simply indicating large amount

Antonyms

misery

310 2.8

A feeling of great unhappiness and suffering

sorrow

243 2.1

A deep feeling of sadness after a loss

How Joyful

ecstasy

57 6.1

joy in spades

Informal

4.8

joy

793 1.0

happiness

970 1.0

pleasure

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

joy in spades singular

joys in spades plural

Morphology

joy + in + spades

The intensifying sense 'in spades' (meaning 'to a great degree') is idiomatic and not predictable from the literal meanings of 'spades' (a digging tool or card suit) or the preposition 'in'. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words would therefore be unlikely to derive 'an abundance of' from the parts alone, so the expression is language-specific and opaque.

Etymology

The idiom joy in spades comes from the image of spades in old card games. One popular story says that getting many spades was a very strong hand, so having something 'in spades' meant having it in a big way, and joy in spades therefore means 'a very large amount of happiness'.