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# the deuce

phrase (noun phrase, mostly in exclamations: «what the deuce», «the deuce of a mess»); «deuce» is a noun (a deuce, deuces)

«the deuce» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, old-fashioned) the Devil, used in mild swearing: «What the deuce?» = What on earth?
2. (tennis) a score of 40–40, when one player must win two points in a row.
3. (cards and dice) a two.

### In the lessons

An old, gentle way of swearing without saying «devil» or worse; heard in old books, period films, or for comic effect. In sport, «deuce» in tennis is everyday. In card games a deuce is a card with the number two.

### Examples

- (old novel) "What the deuce is going on here?" cried the colonel.
- (story) We had the deuce of a job getting the cart out of the mud.
- (comic) "Where the deuce did I put my glasses?" said Grandpa.
- (tennis) It's deuce, so she needs two points in a row to win the game.
- (cards) I've got a deuce of hearts.
- (maths, dice) Rolling a deuce means rolling a two.
- (old letter) It is a deuce of a cold winter here.

### Note

Trap: in tennis and card games «deuce» is not swearing at all. As an exclamation it sounds very old-fashioned or funny today. In a maths or card problem a deuce counts as 2.