deuce
gb/dˈus/ us/dˈus/
B1
English
~ 9100
egyenlő állás, kettes, szar, ördög, manó
NOUN
B1
TECHNICAL
1
Usage pattern:
be at deuce; reach deuce in [a game]
The game went to deuce three times before she finally won it.
A gémben háromszor is egyenlő lett az állás, mielőtt végül megnyerte.
At deuce, he hit an ace to get advantage on his opponent.
Egyenlő állásnál ászt ütött, és ezzel előnybe került az ellenfelével szemben.
They were locked at deuce for several minutes as neither player could win two points in a row.
From the deuce court, he served wide to the backhand.
The pressure really builds when a service game keeps returning to deuce.
Learner examples
The score is deuce in this tennis game.
Ebben a teniszgémben egyenlő az állás.
He saved two game points and then it was deuce again.
Két gémlabdát hárított, aztán ismét egyenlő lett az állás.
She feels nervous every time the game reaches deuce.
After deuce, one player must win two points in a row.
They went back to deuce many times in that long game.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "deuce" for tied scores in other sports, like football or basketball. "Deuce" is mainly used in tennis (and sometimes table tennis), not for general ties like 1–1 or 2–2 in team sports.
Meaning
Tied 40–40 score in tennis
Collocations
at deuce
|reach deuce
|back to deuce
|deuce point
|deuce court
Synonyms
tied score (General term for any equal score; not specific to tennis or the 40–40 situation.)
Antonyms
advantage (In tennis, the score directly opposite to deuce, where one player leads by one point after deuce.)
Themes
sports
|games
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In tennis, the score when both players have 40 points, and one player must win two points in a row to win the game.
In tennis, a score of forty–forty, or any subsequent tie in points where a player must win two points in a row to win the game.
NOUN
B1
2
kettes
A1
Usage pattern:
[a/the] deuce of [suit]
He laid down the deuce of spades to start the trick.
Letette a pikk kettest, hogy elindítsa az ütést.
She needed any deuce to complete her straight.
Bármilyen kettes kellett neki, hogy meglegyen a sora.
If you play the deuce of hearts now, you can force him to win the trick.
I only have a deuce and a three left in my hand.
The lowly deuce ended up winning the whole pot.
Learner examples
He put the deuce of clubs on the table.
Letette a treff kettest az asztalra.
She drew a deuce and a king from the deck.
Egy kettest és egy királyt húzott a pakliból.
I do not want to play this deuce yet.
In this game, the deuce is a very strong card.
He won the round with just a deuce.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "deuce" can be used for the number two in all situations. It is normally used only for cards (and sometimes dice), not for saying someone is "deuce years old" or writing numbers.
Meaning
Playing card with value two
Collocations
deuce of clubs
|deuce of hearts
|low deuce
|play the deuce
|hold a deuce
Synonyms
two (General name for the card; "deuce" is more traditional or game-focused, especially in American English.)
Antonyms
ace (Often considered the highest card, contrasting with a low-value card like the deuce.)
Themes
games
|leisure
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A card in a deck that has the number two on it.
A playing card with the value of two in any suit.
NOUN
B2
3
kettes
A1
Usage pattern:
roll a deuce with [a die/dice]
If you roll a deuce, you have to move back two spaces.
Ha kettest dobsz, két mezőt vissza kell lépned.
The die came up a deuce, to everyone’s disappointment.
A kocka kettest mutatott, mindenki csalódására.
He needed anything but a deuce to win, but he rolled a two.
Snake eyes, not a single deuce, showed on the table after three throws.
She groaned when the die showed another deuce in a row.
Learner examples
He rolled the die and got a deuce.
Eldobta a kockát, és kettest dobott.
If you roll a deuce, you lose a turn.
Ha kettest dobsz, kimaradsz egy körből.
The die is showing a deuce on top.
She was lucky and did not roll a deuce.
I need a deuce or a three to move.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the tennis meaning and think "roll a deuce" is about sports. In board games or gambling, "deuce" refers to the number two on dice or cards.
Meaning
Side of a die showing two spots
Collocations
roll a deuce
|showing a deuce
|hit a deuce
|a pair of deuces
Synonyms
two (General term for the number; "deuce" is used specifically in the context of dice or cards.)
Antonyms
six (On a standard die, often seen as the opposite extreme value to two.)
Themes
games
|gambling
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The side of a die with two dots, or a throw that gives the number two.
On a die, the side that shows two spots, or a throw that results in a score of two.
NOUN
B2
VULGAR
4
szar
B2
Usage pattern:
take/drop a deuce
He joked that he had to go inside and drop a deuce before the movie started.
Azzal viccelődött, hogy a film kezdete előtt be kell mennie szarni.
Someone left a deuce in the public restroom without flushing.
Valaki lehúzás nélkül otthagyott egy szart a nyilvános vécében.
They laughed at the crude story about a giant deuce in the toilet.
That dog just left a huge deuce in the middle of the sidewalk.
He complained that the smell proved someone had just taken a deuce there.
Learner examples
He used a rude word and said he needed to take a deuce.
Egy durva szót használt, és azt mondta, hogy szarnia kell.
They laughed at a joke about a big deuce in the toilet.
Nevettek egy viccen, ami egy nagy szarról szólt a vécében.
This word is vulgar, so do not say "deuce" in polite talk.
He said his dog left a deuce on the floor.
The smell in the bathroom was strong after someone took a deuce.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize how vulgar or childish this sense is and might use it in formal or mixed company. It is safer to avoid this meaning and use neutral words like "use the bathroom" instead.
Meaning
Slang for a piece of feces
Collocations
take a deuce
|drop a deuce
|big deuce
|smelly deuce
Synonyms
poop (Informal and childish; "deuce" is more crude and often used jokingly among adults.)
Antonyms
number one (Childish euphemism for urination, contrasting with "number two" or "deuce" for defecation.)
Themes
body
|slang
|daily_life
Definition
Rude slang for solid waste from the body (poop), usually in phrases like "take a deuce."
Vulgar slang for a piece or quantity of human feces, especially in the phrase "take a deuce" or "drop a deuce."
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
5
Usage pattern:
in exclamations like what/where/who the deuce
What the deuce are you doing in my office at this hour?
Mi az ördögöt keresel az irodámban ilyenkor?
Where the deuce did you put my keys?
Hová az ördögbe tetted a kulcsaimat?
Who the deuce is that man standing by the gate?
The old novel was full of phrases like "the deuce you say" and other mild oaths.
He muttered, "What the deuce?" when the machine suddenly stopped working.
Learner examples
In old books, people sometimes say, "What the deuce?"
Régi könyvekben az emberek néha azt mondják: „Mi a manó?”
He shouted, "Where the deuce are my shoes?" in anger.
Dühösen felkiáltott: „Hol az ördögben vannak a cipőim?”
This use of "deuce" is old and not common today.
The phrase "the deuce you say" sounds very old-fashioned.
She read the line, "Who the deuce is he?" in a classic story.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this sense is common in modern speech because it appears in older books or subtitles. In current everyday English, people very rarely say "What the deuce?"; they use other exclamations instead.
Meaning
Old-fashioned euphemism for the devil
Collocations
what the deuce
|where the deuce
|who the deuce
|the deuce you say
Synonyms
devil (The direct word; "deuce" is a softer, older, and now rare euphemism.)
Antonyms
God (In religious and figurative language, the opposite figure to the devil.)
Themes
emotions
|literature
|communication
|core_vocabulary
|religion
Definition
An old, polite way to say "the devil" in exclamations like "What the deuce?" to show surprise or anger.
An old-fashioned euphemistic term for the devil, used especially in exclamations to express surprise, annoyance, or confusion.
Grammar
Dictionary form
deuce
IPA
GB/dˈus/
US/dˈus/
Syllables & stress
deuce (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (deuce)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: deuce
- Plural: deuce, deuces
Word family
Expressions
at deuce
1/ˈæt dˈus/
fixed phrase
technical
Tennis game in a deuce state
Used to say that a tennis game is at the score of 40–40, when one player must win two points in a row to win.
Examples
- The players are still at deuce after a long rally.
- They’ve been at deuce for several minutes in this game.
- Once the game is at deuce, the pressure increases on the server.
drop a deuce
1/dɹˈɑp ə dˈus/
idiom
vulgar
Vulgar slang for defecate once
Very rude slang for going to the toilet to pass solid waste (to poop), focusing on one act.
Examples
- He joked that he had to drop a deuce before the long car ride.
- Nobody wanted to use the stall after someone had clearly dropped a deuce there.
- The comedian used the phrase "drop a deuce" in one of his routines.
reach deuce
1/ɹˈit͡ʃ dˈus/
fixed phrase
technical
Bring tennis score to deuce
To make the score in a tennis game become 40–40.
Examples
- She fought hard to reach deuce after being down 40–15.
- If he wins this point, he will reach deuce.
- The underdog managed to reach deuce in almost every return game.
take a deuce
1/tˈeɪk ə dˈus/
idiom
vulgar
Vulgar slang for defecate
Very rude slang meaning to go to the toilet to pass solid waste (to poop).
Examples
- He told his friend he needed to take a deuce before they left.
- That bathroom smells like someone just took a deuce in there.
- They laughed at his story about having to take a deuce during the exam.
what the deuce
1/wˈʌt ðə dˈus/
idiom
literary
Old-fashioned exclamation of surprise
An old and mild way to say that you are surprised, confused, or annoyed, similar to "what on earth" or "what the hell" but less strong.
Examples
- What the deuce is going on out there?
- He looked at the bill and cried, "What the deuce? I never ordered this!"
- In the play, the character shouts, "What the deuce are you doing here?" when the stranger enters.
where the deuce
1/wˈɛɹ ðə dˈus/
idiom
literary
Old-fashioned annoyed question about location
An old and mild way to ask in surprise or anger where something or someone is, similar to "where on earth" or "where the hell."
Examples
- Where the deuce have you been all this time?
- Where the deuce did I leave my wallet?
- He cried, "Where the deuce is my hat?" in the old film.