in an excess of something—
1. when smth. is present beyond the limits of what is normal:
- This can be made by burning sulphur in an excess of air.
2. through too much emotion:
- My own copy has long been gone, pocketed by an acquaintance whom I pressed it on in an excess of generosity.
in excess of something—to a greater amount than smth. else:
- “Armorplate” has acquired a degree of strength far in excess of that with which the original plate glass was endowed.