English

Adverb

but good

1. (idiomatic) To a high degree; very thoroughly; in a most definite manner.
   • 1992, Catherine Coulter, The Hellion Bride, ISBN 9780515109740, (Google preview):

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

   • 2000 Oct. 2, Jessica Reaves and Frank Pellegrini, "For Bush, It's an Expectations Game; For Gore, It's Learning From His (Few) Mistakes," Time:

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

   • 2011 Aug. 16, Joe Drape, "Postcards From Saratoga Springs: There’s a Doctor in the Paddock," New York Times (retrieved 16 Aug 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 at OneLook Dictionary Search