Has it in spades

[codswallop]

When someone has plenty of something or of cheek he is said to have it in spades.What is the origin of this??Thanks!!

[Clanad]

Our friends at "Words to the Wise" say... " it arose from the game of bridge, in which the suit of spades is the highest ranking suit in the game. In spades dates in the written record from 1929 in the U.S.

Spade used to refer to the card suit dates in writing from 1598. It derives from Italian spade "sword". It is simply a coincidence that the spade symbol in British and U.S. playing cards (which came ultimately from France) resembles a spade or shovel."

[codswallop]

Thanks Clanad!!!