to the nth degree

to the nth degree

To the highest level or degree; as much as possible. We're pushing the computer to the nth degree to be able to render these kinds of effects. The film is cheesy to the nth degree, but intentionally so.

See also: degree, nth, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

to the nth degree

to the maximum amount. Jane is a perfectionist and tries to be careful to the nth degree. This scientific instrument is accurate to the nth degree.

See also: degree, nth, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

to the nth degree

To the utmost, as in They'd decked out the house to the nth degree. This expression comes from mathematics, where to the nth means "to any required power" ( n standing for any number). It was first recorded in 1852.

See also: degree, nth, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

to the nth degree

If you do something or have a particular quality to the nth degree, you do it or have it to an extreme degree. He carried discretion to the nth degree, speaking only once about his job. You're a risk-taker to the nth degree.

See also: degree, nth, to

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

to the nth degree

to any extent; to the utmost.

In mathematics, nth denotes an unspecified member of a series of numbers or enumerated items.

1994 i-D Along the way they argue, get harassed by ignorant locals, sing along to their favourite tunes and camp it up to the nth degree.

See also: degree, nth, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

to the nth deˈgree

(informal) to the greatest possible amount, level, etc.; very much: This book is boring to the nth degree.

See also: degree, nth, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

to the nth degree

To the utmost possible. In mathematics to the nth has meant “to any required power” since the eighteenth century, and it soon came to be used figuratively as meaning “to any extent” or “to the utmost.” Thus Francis E. Smedley wrote (Lewis Arundel, 1852), “Minerva was great . . . starched to the nth.”

See also: degree, nth, to

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer