deuce

/djuːs/ (bre, ipa) · /duːs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdüs also ˈdyüs/ (ame, mw)

deuce — noun

1. In tennis, the stage of a game when each player has scored forty points, so one

1.名詞B1
釋義

In tennis, the stage of a game when each player has scored forty points, so one side must win two points in a row to win the game.

例句

Yuna won two points in a row to take the game after reaching deuce.

collocation: reach deuce / win two points in a row

The umpire called deuce when both players had forty points.

collocation: called deuce (by the umpire)

用法筆記

This sense only applies to tennis; in table tennis the term is also used but less formally.

常見錯誤

The match ended at deuce' (final score).
The match went to deuce in the final set.
💡deuce is a mid-game score, not the final result.

2. The side of a dice that shows two dots, or a playing card with the number two an

2.名詞B1
釋義

The side of a dice that shows two dots, or a playing card with the number two and two symbols printed on it.

例句

Vikram rolled a deuce and a five, so he moved seven spaces on the board.

collocation: roll a deuce (dice)

In the card game, Ananya won the trick by playing the deuce of hearts.

collocation: the deuce of [suit] (playing cards)

同義詞
  • two

    the everyday word for the number; deuce is restricted to games

  • two-spot

    an informal name for the same playing card, less common

用法筆記

Used mainly in the context of traditional card games (poker, bridge) and board games that use dice.

常見錯誤

I have a deuce dollar bill.
I have a two-dollar bill.
💡deuce is not used for the number two in everyday counting.

3. Used in questions or exclamations to show that you feel annoyed, angry, or surpr

3.名詞B2
釋義

Used in questions or exclamations to show that you feel annoyed, angry, or surprised about something.

例句

What the deuce happened to the car keys? I left them right here.

pattern: 'What the deuce...?' for annoyance

Amara cried out, "Where the deuce did that cat disappear to this time?"

同義詞
  • heck

    modern, less strong, and more common in everyday speech

  • dickens

    similar old-fashioned mild exclamation

  • the devil

    similar register, slightly stronger

用法筆記

Now considered old-fashioned or mildly humorous; younger speakers are more likely to use 'heck', 'the hell', or 'on earth' instead. Frequently appears in fixed phrases: 'what the deuce', 'who the deuce', 'how the deuce'.

常見錯誤

Deuce! I stubbed my toe.' (as a standalone curse).
What the deuce is going on here?
💡deuce typically appears in question-word phrases rather than as a standalone exclamation.

deuce — verb