Deuce

See also: deuce

English

Proper noun

the Deuce

1. Alternative letter-case form of deuce (“the Devil”).
   • 1847 December, Ellis Bell [pseudonym; Emily Brontë], chapter I, in Wuthering Heights: […], volume I, London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC, page 2:

     “I should not allow any one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it—walk in!” The “walk in,” was uttered with closed teeth and expressed the sentiment, “Go to the Deuce!”

   • [1880?], [Arthur Hamilton], The Confessions of a Scribbler. Containing Among Other Curious Autobiographical Matter, His Experiences of the Printers, Publishers, Reviewers, and Readers of a Modern Book., Merthyr Tydfil: […] H. W. Southey, →OCLC, page 74:

     “How in the Deuce’s name can they set up correctly from copy like that?” demanded he, in a fury.

   • 1906 December 22, F. J. M., “Looking Christmas in the Face”, in The Speaker: The Liberal Review, London, →OCLC, page 348, column 2:

     THE Dickens Christmas has gone to the Deuce. Dickens probably did as much for the humanity of his time as most men, and certainly did more for Christmas than any man living or dead. Yet the Christmas he created has been allowed to become moribund. Its days are numbered, and the numbers are only the Christmas numbers. The ghost of his Christmas stalks through their pages.