to good effect

to good effect

In an effective manner or to an effective degree. The director uses humor to good effect, adding some much-needed levity to the stark drama of the story.
See also: effect, good
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

to good, little, etc. efˈfect

with a good, etc. result: Her talent as a dancer is shown to considerable effect in this new production.
See also: effect
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • to good, little, etc. effect
  • take effect
  • move up a gear
  • step (it) up a gear
  • move (something) into a higher gear
  • step down
  • spent
  • a spent force
  • play (one's) cards well
  • make (something) count
References in periodicals archive
NEWMARKET GALLOPS David Milnes ??Without Parole John Gosden The ante-post favourite for the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes was granted the luxury of heading the Clarehaven Ascot-bound team up the Al Bahathri Polytrack at second lot, where he finished to good effect under Robert Havlin.
Fly-half Danny Cipriani ran the show to good effect, while new signing Gaby Lovobalavu put in an impressive debut in the No.12 shirt.
Sammy Jo Bell was shown to good effect in winning the third race on Consett trainer Wilf Storey's Mr Sundowner.
SUBS: Michael O'Halloran 8 Had the Linfield full-back on toast and used his pace to good effect time and again.
theo Walcott rating: 8 Switched wings to good effect with Stewart Downing.
Martin Perry used floating baits to good effect on Meadow Lake at Riverside Fishery when he banked six carp with the best a mirror of 13.5lb.
He came off the bench to good effect and set up Gardner's equaliser, just days after scoring the winner against bitter rivals Villa in the Carling Cup quarter-final.
Many can broadly be called torch songs, with Almond's adroit lyrics and pleasantly sleazy vocals employed to good effect, dealing with familiar themes of performance and the experiences of the lonely, the unloved, and the atypical.
Meanwhile, its lightweight steel construction results in a remarkably low kerb weight and its unusually sizeable appearance for the medium-size class has been used to good effect, delivering a generous level of interior space for both driver and passengers.
I can only hope (I am an optimist by nature) that the council will at some stage use our hard earned money to good effect.
Luckily Robin, above, instead of slinking offto weep about it, decided to use our hate to good effect by playing onscreen baddies.
BOXING: Liverpool lightweight Thomas Stalker used his height and reach advantage to good effect to see off lively Filipino Joegin Ladon 11-4 and move through to the next stage of the World Championship in Milan .
He also went close on Serpentaria for his boss, Sir Mark Prescott, but it was on Bonjour Allure in the opener, the EBF sporthull.co.uk Maiden Stakes, where he was seen to good effect. "She's a lovely filly and anything she did this year was going to be a bonus," said Duffield.
I realise that doing good and making a difference is not just about throwing money at problems; but Gates and Buffett are experts at manipulating resources to good effect; and, although creating wealth is very different from spending it, this new partnership is terrific news for humanity.
Martin Pipe's conditional had been seen to good effect when scoring on Therealbandit for his boss at Wetherby on Boxing Day.