by half
prep_phrase1
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.
- He and two friends were known as “the three pseuds” among the rest of the boys, who thought them too clever by half.2012 November 9, Decca Aitkenhead, “Robbie Coltrane: ‘I take no nonsense’”, in The Guardian:
- Related terms
- by halves, dunnarf, not half, not half bad, for one's own good