# deuce

/ˈdus/ (US) · /djˈuːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deuce
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. tennis score

noun · CEFR B2

a score in tennis where both players have 40 points and one must win two points in a row to win the game.

For teachers: a tie in a tennis game where both players have scored three points (40-40), requiring one player to score two consecutive points to win.

- The game went to deuce three times before she finally won the set.
- After a grueling ten-minute rally, the score returned to deuce, prolonging an already exhausting final set.

Usage: Used as an uncountable noun in this context.

### 2. playing cards or dice

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a playing card with the number two on it, or a side of a die with two spots.

For teachers: a playing card or a face of a die featuring two pips or spots.

- He was disappointed to draw a deuce of clubs when he needed an ace.
- In many variations of poker, the deuce is considered the lowest card unless designated as a wild card.

### 3. the devil

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Humorous

a mild way to say 'the devil' when you are annoyed or surprised.

For teachers: a euphemistic term for the devil, typically employed in exclamatory phrases to express frustration or emphasis.

- Where the deuce did I leave my car keys?
- He wondered what the deuce was going on in the office after seeing the lights on at midnight.

Teaching tip: This sense is mostly found in older British literature; modern speakers use it rarely, often for a humorous or old-fashioned effect.

### 4. peace sign

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

a hand gesture where you hold up two fingers in a V-shape.

For teachers: a hand gesture involving the extension of the index and middle fingers, commonly representing peace or the number two.

- He threw up a deuce to his friends as he drove away.
- The rapper flashed a deuce to the cameras before disappearing into the VIP lounge.

## Examples

- The two cars are a perfect deuce.
- After comparing the two contracts, the lawyers realized they were a complete deuce in every detail.
- The two paintings are a deuce, so similar in style and subject matter that even the most experienced art critic would struggle to distinguish the original from the copy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.