# strong suit

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/strong-suit
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A field in which, or task at which, one is quite capable.

## Examples

- Cooking is not my strong suit.
- Patience is a strong suit for a good teacher.
- Is fixing cars your strong suit?
- Public speaking is not his strong suit, so he felt nervous about the presentation.
- If you need help with the budget, ask the manager because math is her strong suit.
- The team lost the game because defense is not their strong suit this year.
- You should handle the negotiations since staying calm under pressure has always been your strong suit during difficult business meetings.
- While she excelled at complex data analysis, creative writing was simply not her strong suit.

## Origin

Derived from card games in which a player may hold a particularly high number or value of cards in one of the four suits. The term appeared in the mid-19th century as a figurative extension of the advantage gained from such a hand. A player’s strong suit provided a reliable means of winning tricks, a circumstance that translated easily into a general description of personal ability or specialized knowledge.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.