Not My Strong Suit

Not My Strong Suit: Definition, Meaning, and Origin
Last Updated on
August 17, 2023
The phrase "not my strong suit" often expresses that something isn't your area of expertise or skill. If you say, "mathematics is not my strong suit," you mean that you are not particularly good at math. The phrase suggests that while you might have various skills or "suits," this particular one isn't your best.

In short:

"Not my strong suit" is about expressing a lack of expertise or proficiency in a certain area.
The phrase indicates an area where you might struggle or not excel.
What Does "Not My Strong Suit" Mean?
The phrase “not my strong suit” points towards an area where you don't excel. If you say, "cooking is not my strong suit," it means you're not particularly skilled at cooking. It's a way of admitting a weakness or acknowledging an area where you could use improvement.

Let's dig deeper into its fundamental meanings and usage:

"Not my strong suit" is used to admit a lack of skill or expertise in a specific area.
It's used when you want to acknowledge a weakness or area for improvement. For example, if you're not good at multitasking, you might say, "I need to learn to tackle things one at a time because multitasking is not my strong suit."
The phrase suggests you have other areas where you are more competent or skilled. In other words, while this might not be your strong suit, you have others.
It's often used in casual conversations or discussions about skills and abilities.
Similar phrases include "not my forte," "not my specialty," "not my thing," and "not my cup of tea."
Where Does "Not My Strong Suit" Come From?
The origin of the phrase "strong suit" is rooted in card games, where a 'suit' refers to one of the categories into which the cards of a deck are divided. The 'strong suit' is the suit with the highest value cards. Thus, it's the player's best chance of winning. Gradually, this term found its way into everyday language, serving to denote a person's strongest skills or abilities. Consequently, when someone says something is "not my strong suit," it implies that it's not their area of strength or expertise.

Historical Example
"Wait, wait, wait. Admittedly, economics was not my strong suit in college, and some would say it is still not my strong point the way I have managed my portfolio over the years, but how do you arrive at the fact that it is not a safe place?"

- The New York Times, 1987.

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suit
a set of outer clothes made of the same fabric and designed to be worn together, typically consisting of a jacket and trousers or a jacket and skirt:
"a pinstriped suit"
Similar:
outfit
costume
ensemble

any of the sets distinguished by their pictorial symbols into which a deck of playing cards is divided, in conventional decks comprising spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs.