strong suit
Definition
Noun: 1. A particular skill, talent, or area of expertise at which someone excels: It refers to a person's most developed ability or a field where they perform exceptionally well. 2. In card games (especially bridge), a holding of several high cards in a single suit: This is the original, literal meaning from card games, referring to a suit (like hearts or spades) in which a player holds many powerful cards.
Usage Examples
As a skill or talent:
- Public speaking has always been her strong suit.
- Mathematics was never my strong suit, but I excelled in literature.
- Attention to detail is a strong suit for any good editor.
In card games (less common in general conversation):
- He led with his strong suit, hoping to take control of the hand.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used in the negative or in questions to indicate a lack of skill: or
- It can be used for organizations or systems, not just people:
Variants and Related Words
- Long suit (noun): This is a direct synonym, especially from the card-playing context, meaning a suit in which one holds many cards. It is also used figuratively to mean a strong point or specialty, identical to "strong suit."
Synonyms
- Forte: A thing at which someone excels. (e.g., )
- Strength: A valuable or useful ability or asset. (e.g., )
- Specialty: A pursuit, area of study, or skill to which someone has devoted much time and effort and is particularly expert.
- Métier: A profession or occupation, or a field in which one has special ability.
Antonyms
- Weakness: A quality or feature regarded as a disadvantage or fault.
- Shortcoming: A fault or failure to meet a certain standard.
- Achilles' heel: A critical weakness that could lead to downfall.
Related Idioms
- Play to one's strengths/strong suit: To focus on or utilize one's areas of greatest skill or advantage.
- In the project, we should play to our strong suit and handle the design work ourselves.
Noun
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an asset of special worth or utility
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cooking is his forte
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a long suit including high cards
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