"For Good Measure" Idiom Meaning, Origin & History | Superduper English Idioms
Channel: Superduper English Idioms
Date: 29/04/2021

0:00 - How to Say, “... for good measure.”
0:20 - Examples of “... for good measure.”
1:01 - Meaning of “... for good measure.”
1:17 - Origin of “... for good measure.”
2:50 - More Examples of “... for good measure.”
3:31 - Conclusion

“... for good measure.”

If someone says that something is “for good measure”, it means that they’ve done or added, given, included a little bit extra, more than necessary, more than enough.

“... and here’s one extra doughnut, for good measure,” the baker at your local doughnut shop might generously give you.

Maybe you’re at a hardware store and are buying screws, “Let’s pick up a few extra packs for good measure… it would be a lot of trouble to come back if we ran out!”

“For good measure, we should each pack an extra set of clothes,” your friend might say before you set off on a hiking trip.

As you can tell, if something is done, included, given “for good measure”, then it is more than needed, something more, a generous addition.

The first appearance of the idiom, “for good measure”, appears in John Wyclif’s Middle English translation of the Bible, around 1384. Though, you can bet that it was spoken well before ever being written down.

“Good measure” simply means, “a generous, lavish, liberal amount of something that is sold by weight or measure”; “good” can also mean ample, plentiful, copious, a lot.

People are often too zealous, enthusiastic or extravagant with ingredients when cooking or quantities when gathering raw materials for a project…

… but those with experience, expertise, training know that “more is not necessarily better”! Much of the time, a precise, accurate, exact amount is all that’s needed.

In social or business situations that involve people, however, including enough “for good measure” is a solid strategy for winning their hearts.

“It says to let the paint dry for 30 minutes, but don’t touch it for one hour for good measure,” you might be telling your kid after painting something.

Perhaps you’re packing a picnic, “I guess I’ll make a few extra sandwiches for good measure.”

“For good measure, why don’t we arrive at the airport three hours earlier than the start of check-in time?” your partner might suggest during March break travel.

So, the next time you want to do more than expected, go slightly overboard, give a generous amount, include a lot, be sure to say it’s “for good measure”.

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References: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/for-good-measure.html