deuce

(do͞os, dyo͞os)

1. a. A playing card having two spots or the side of a die bearing two pips.
   b. A cast of dice totaling two.
2. A tied score in tennis in which each player or side has 40 points, or 5 or more games, and one player or side must win 2 successive points to win the game, or 2 successive games to win the set.

(do͞os, dyo͞os) Informal

1. The devil: “Love is a bodily infirmity . . . which breaks out the deuce knows how or why” (Thackeray).
2. An outstanding example, especially of something difficult or bad: had a deuce of a time getting out of town; a deuce of a family row.
3. A severe reprimand or expression of anger: got the deuce for being late.
4. Used as an intensive: What the deuce were they thinking of?