Deuce in Tennis Means Two Points Are Needed
A deuce is a two in cards or dice, and the score of forty-all in tennis. The tennis sense means two clear points are still required.
A deuce is a two on a card or die, and in tennis the score when both players reach forty. The tennis meaning is a compressed piece of French: *à deux de jeu*, meaning two points from the game, because from deuce a player must win two consecutive points to take it. The word states the requirement, not the tie. *The deuce* is also a mild old oath meaning the devil, as in what the deuce.
- A two in cards or dice. *The deuce of clubs.*
- Forty-all in tennis. *The game went to deuce.*
- The devil (dated). *What the deuce?*
- Advantage — the point after deuce. *Advantage server.*
- French — *deux*, two. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | deuce | A deuce. |
| Plural | deuces | Two deuces. |
| Tennis term | deuce | Back to deuce. |
| Related | advantage | Advantage out. |
| French | deux | Two. |
- The game reached deuce five times.Tennis.
- He drew the deuce of hearts.Cards.
- What the deuce is going on?Dated oath.
Tennis scoring words
- Love — zero, possibly from French *l'oeuf*, the egg
- Fifteen, thirty, forty — the point scores, forty shortened from forty-five
- Deuce — forty-all, from *à deux de jeu*
- Advantage — one point ahead from deuce
- Game, set, match — the three levels of winning
Old French *deus*, two, from Latin *duos*. The tennis sense is from *à deux de jeu*; the devil sense is probably from a low throw at dice.
Why is forty-all called deuce?
From French à deux de jeu, meaning two points from the game, because a player must win two in a row from that score.
Why does deuce mean the devil?
Probably from dice, where a two was the worst throw. It became a mild oath in the 1600s.