牌和骰子上的「二」
這一家最靠近字的本義：二就是二，只是印在牌上或刻在骰面上。
noun · C1
A playing card with the number two on it, for example the deuce of hearts. The source marks this use as American English.
二（撲克牌的 2）
這個拼法底下其實是2個不同的字，意思沒有關係， 只是長得一樣。下面分開列出來。跳到 二（撲克牌的 2） · 到底（加重語氣）
1
deuce
n核心畫面
One way to hold this word: a small flat thing with two marks on it, sitting in your hand or on the table. A card with two pips, a dice face with two spots. The whole word is just the number two, wearing a game's clothes. Once you can see that two, the tennis score follows: at 40-40 the game no longer ends with one point, it ends with two.
可以想成手上一張畫著兩個點的小東西：一張牌面是 2 的牌，或骰子上有兩點的那一面。這個字整個就是「二」，只是穿上了遊…更多收起
可以想成手上一張畫著兩個點的小東西：一張牌面是 2 的牌，或骰子上有兩點的那一面。這個字整個就是「二」，只是穿上了遊戲的衣服。先看住這個二，網球那個 deuce 就跟著出來了：40 比 40 的時候，再一分不算贏，要再兩分才收得掉。From the word’s history
The source traces deuce through Middle English dewes and Old French deus back to Latin duo, 'two'. So the number two is not a guess about this word; it is what the word was.
來源資料把 deuce 一路接回中古英語 dewes、古法文 deus，最後是拉丁文 duo（二）。所以「二」不是我們替它想的畫面，它本來就是二。
Wiktionary (kaikki snapshot 3f6f69a190036ae4), deuce noun etymology 1: 'From Middle English dewes (two), from Anglo-Norman, from Old French deus, from Latin duo.'
From the picture
網球的「還要再兩分」
同樣是二，但這次不是一個東西，而是一個條件：要結束這一局，還差兩分。
noun · B2
In tennis, the score when both players have 40 points, so the game is tied. After deuce, a player must win two points in a row to win the game.
平分（40比40）
Also in this word
noun · C1
In games with dice, the side of a dice that has two spots on it, or a throw that gives you a total of two.
兩點（骰子）
A second word, same spelling
2
deuce
n核心畫面
A second, unrelated picture lives under the same spelling. Think of a polite door held open for a rude word: the speaker wants to name the Devil, and says deuce instead. Slipped into a question, it does not change what is being asked, only how hot the asking is.
同樣的拼字底下，其實還住著另一張完全不相干的畫面。可以想成一個替身：講話的人本來想搬出「魔鬼」，但話到嘴邊換成 de…更多收起
同樣的拼字底下，其實還住著另一張完全不相干的畫面。可以想成一個替身：講話的人本來想搬出「魔鬼」，但話到嘴邊換成 deuce。它塞進句子裡不改變問的內容，只是把溫度調高。From the word’s history
The source does not settle this one. It offers Late Latin dusius ('phantom, specter'), Scottish Gaelic taibhs ('ghost'), or Old French deus ('God') as possibilities, and lists it as a separate etymology from the 'two' word.
來源對這一支沒有定論，只列了幾個可能：晚期拉丁文 dusius（鬼影）、蘇格蘭蓋爾語 taibhs（幽靈），或古法文 deus（神）。可以確定的只有一件事：來源把它列成和「二」不同的另一條詞源。
Wiktionary (kaikki snapshot 3f6f69a190036ae4), deuce noun etymology 2: 'Compare Late Latin dusius (phantom, specter); Scottish Gaelic taibhs, taibhse (apparition, ghost); or from Old French deus (God), from Latin deus.'
From the picture
把「魔鬼」塞進句子裡加重語氣
兩個用法都是同一個動作：借「魔鬼」的力氣，把原本平常的句子講得更用力。
noun · C2
Put straight after the question word in a question, to show that you are surprised, confused or annoyed. The source marks it as old-fashioned and spoken.
到底（加重語氣）
Also in this word
noun · C2
Used before a noun to say that something was very hard, very bad, or extreme in some way: a deuce of a time getting here means it was very difficult to get here. It sounds old-fashioned.
很難搞的…（加重語氣）