to a fare-thee-well

Idioms  

1. To the most extreme degree, especially a condition of perfection. For example, We've cleaned the house to a fare-thee-well, or He played the part of martyr to a fare-thee-well. This term first appeared as to a fare-you-well in the late 1800s, and the more archaic-sounding present form replaced it about 1940.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

to a fare-thee-well

He is not sitting at a workbench but at a mahogany table polished to a fare-thee-well and reflecting the sitter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

“Quite frankly, I don’t blame him. At this point, he screwed up Friday to a fare-thee-well, from pen to post, he did that wrong in every way possible,” Stirewalt said.

From Fox News ● Feb. 5, 2019

While Leigh probes and theorizes to a fare-thee-well, he does convey a good deal of pure information.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 8, 2015

Since it is not his money but BP’s, why should he care so much that everything be documented to a fare-thee-well?

From New York Times ● Nov. 20, 2010

I know perfectly well that you’ve got this place bugged to a fare-thee-well.

From Unwise Child by Garrett, Randall