a high spade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a high spade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to card games, particularly when referring to a spade card of high rank. Example: "In the final round of the game, I played a high spade, which secured my victory."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

West led a high spade.

The New York Times

A spade ruff left declarer with a trump and a high spade.

The New York Times

Now when declarer led his diamond, West stepped in with her ace and played a high spade.

The New York Times

The two Wests led a high spade, Buratti the queen and Madala the jack (Rusinow), which was won in the dummy.

The New York Times

But declarer judged that if West had the diamond ace, he would have led a high spade, not a low one.

The New York Times

Note that that contract would have gone down one if South led a high spade then shifted to her singleton diamond.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Your high cards will "probably" win a trick, but only if nobody lays out a higher spade.

WikiHow

Now a club switch was needed, but West led a second high spade.

The New York Times

East should have led a third high spade, forcing dummy to ruff, regardless of the rest of the layout.

The New York Times

And East, who had to retain her high spade, also parted with a heart.

The New York Times

Even if declarer won, cashed the last high spade and played three rounds of hearts, East could return a low club, endplaying declarer to lead away from the queen-ten of clubs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a card game scenario, use "a high spade" to clearly denote a spade card with a significant rank. This is most effective in contexts where the specific rank matters.

Common error

Avoid using "a high spade" in general discussions about spades without specifying its relevance to a particular game or situation. Ensure the high ranking is pertinent to the narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a high spade" functions as a noun phrase, specifically referring to a playing card in the suit of spades that possesses a significant rank. As Ludwig AI explains, it denotes the importance of the rank in card games.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a high spade" is a noun phrase primarily used in the context of card games to denote a spade card of significant rank. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While grammatically sound, its frequency is uncommon, mainly appearing in news articles and wiki guides related to card games. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the relevance of the card's rank. Consider using alternatives like "strong spade card" or specifying the exact card such as "ace of spades" for greater clarity. Most of the examples come from The New York Times. Overall, the phrase is well-understood in its specific context but requires clarity for broader audiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strong spade card

Replaces 'high' with 'strong', emphasizing the card's power rather than its rank.

valuable spade

Focuses on the card's importance or worth within the game.

key spade card

Highlights the crucial role the card plays in a particular situation.

winning spade

Implies the spade will lead to victory or a successful outcome.

top spade

Indicates the highest-ranking spade in a given situation.

ace of spades

Identifies the specific high-ranking spade card.

king of spades

Another specific high-ranking spade card.

queen of spades

Specifies another high-ranking spade card.

dominant spade

Emphasizes the commanding presence of the spade card.

powerful spade

Highlights the strength and impact of the spade card.

FAQs

How is "a high spade" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "a high spade" is generally used when describing a specific play or hand in a card game. For example, "West led "a high spade", which was won in the dummy."

What are some alternatives to "a high spade"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "strong spade card", "valuable spade", or specify the exact card like "ace of spades".

Is it always necessary to specify the suit when referring to "a high spade"?

While it's not always mandatory, specifying the suit (spade) clarifies the card being discussed, especially in contexts where multiple suits are relevant. Omitting the suit might cause confusion.

In what card games is the phrase "a high spade" most commonly used?

The phrase can be used in various card games where spades are part of the gameplay, particularly bridge and spades, where the rank of a spade can be critical for winning tricks.