play the deuce with
Synonym of play the devil with.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The heavy rain played the deuce with our plans.”
“The sudden power outage played the deuce with the office schedule, forcing us to delay the project deadline.”
“His unexpected resignation played the deuce with the department's long-term strategy, leaving the remaining staff to manage the resulting chaos.”
- 01
child's play
Something particularly easy or simple.
- 02
go play in the traffic
To go elsewhere and feel free to engage in risky behavior; to get lost.
- 03
grandstand play
A successful play or other manoeuvre during a sporting competition in which one or more players shows off unnecessarily in order to entertain or impress the spectators.
- 04
hold-up play
A play where an attacker retains possession of the ball, while the teammates can move up the field.
- 05
play a part
To be involved in such a way to affect the outcome, to be a contributing factor.
- 06
play a role
To have an effect or influence on a situation or outcome; to contribute to something.
- 07
play all one's cards
To use all one's resources.
- 08
play along
To take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke.
Last updated August 10, 2026