View Single Post
Old 11-07-2011, 12:17 PM   #4836
orlok
Close to the Edit!
orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.orlok ought to be getting tired of karma fortunes by now.
 
orlok's Avatar
 
Posts: 9,797
Karma: 267994408
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis, Amazon Fire 8", Kindle 6"
Quote:
Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes View Post
^Haha.

A question for all the United Kingdom folks here. What exactly does 'deuce' mean in slang terms. My wife has a friend who says 'what the deuce' all the time. I'm taking it to be a slang/euphemish for h-e-double hockey sticks (Hell). Is that correct? Where did this use of deuce come from in this respect?
You are close. It's actually a form of "What the Devil?". Deuce (devil) is of Northern German origin, as in wat de duus?

Another form that was commonly used in the UK was "What the Dickens?" (you'd probably get a punch in the mouth if you tried it today...).
orlok is offline   Reply With Quote