ace
1a playing card or die marked with or having the value indicated by a single spot: He dealt me four aces in the first hand.
a single spot or mark on a playing card or die.
(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.)
Also called serv·ice ace . a placement made on a service.
any placement.
a serve that the opponent fails to touch.
the point thus scored.
a fighter pilot credited with destroying a prescribed number or more of enemy aircraft, usually five, in combat.
Slang. a one-dollar bill.
Slang. a close friend.
Golf.
Also called hole in one . a shot in which the ball is driven from the tee into the hole in one stroke: He hit a 225-yard ace on the first hole.
a score of one stroke made on such a shot: to card an ace.
Slang. a barbiturate or amphetamine capsule or pill.
a very small quantity, amount, or degree; a particle: not worth an ace.
Slang. a grade of A; the highest grade or score.
(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to win a point against (one's opponent) by an ace.
Golf. to make an ace on (a hole).
Slang. to cheat, defraud, or take advantage of (often followed by out): to be aced out of one's inheritance;friend who aced me out of a good job.
Slang.
to receive a grade of A, as on a test or in a course (sometimes followed by out).
to complete easily and successfully: He aced every physical fitness test they gave him.
Sometimes aces . excellent; first-rate; outstanding.
ace it, Slang. to accomplish something with complete success: a champion who could ace it every time.
Idioms about ace
ace up one's sleeve, an important, effective, or decisive argument, resource, or advantage kept in reserve until needed.
be aces with, Slang. to be highly regarded by: The boss says you're aces with him.
easy aces, Auction Bridge. aces equally divided between opponents.
within an ace of, within a narrow margin of; close to: He came within an ace of winning.
Origin of ace
1Other definitions for ace (2 of 3)
a person who experiences little or no sexual attraction to other people; asexual: She's an ace, but she's had a couple of romantic relationships.
experiencing little or no sexual attraction to other people: As someone who identifies as ace, this article gave me much food for thought.
Origin of ace
2Other definitions for ACE (3 of 3)
American Council on Education.
Army Corps of Engineers.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use ace in a sentence
Thorne also worked closely with Double Negative, the visual-effects aces who worked on Interstellar.
Meet Kip Thorne, the Man Who Crafted the Artful Science of ‘Interstellar’ | Asawin Suebsaeng | November 14, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTJones, it should be said, is also aces as the unfulfilled housewife (a role she plays very convincingly on Mad Men).
Ethan Hawke's 'Good Kill': A Searing Indictment of America's Drone Warfare Obsession | Marlow Stern | September 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThere are no winning hands, just a grim deck full of aces of spades.
War Is the New Peace: American Vets Reflect on Syria | John Kael Weston | September 10, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWell, one of a couple aces in the hole, including the electoral map, which I write about below, in case you missed it.
He aces it, of course, and the commentator asks, “Was that a secret message?”
Fainting, Confusion, Screams: The 9 Best Spelling Bee Stumpers (VIDEO) | Anna Klassen | May 31, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
"Still, I seem to be holding four aces now," Moran grinned back at him.
Hidden Gold | Wilder AnthonyHe regarded his fate as does a card-player who day after day holds sixes and sevens when other men have the aces and kings.
The Prime Minister | Anthony TrollopeIt had fallen to Evelyn to provide her with a no-trump hand containing four aces, and she was disposed to be gracious.
The Angel of Pain | E. F. BensonWhen, later in the evening, he played bridge as the daughter's partner, he had a rush of hearts and aces to the hand.
Bizarre | Lawton MackallThe greater part of the captains did little; a few "aces" compiled huge lists of sunken tonnage to their credit (or otherwise).
The Story of Our Submarines | John Graham Bower
British Dictionary definitions for ace (1 of 2)
/ (eɪs) /
any die, domino, or any of four playing cards with one spot
a single spot or pip on a playing card, die, etc
tennis a winning serve that the opponent fails to reach
golf, mainly US a hole in one
a fighter pilot accredited with destroying several enemy aircraft
informal an expert or highly skilled person: an ace at driving
an ace up one's sleeve or an ace in the hole a hidden and powerful advantage
hold all the aces to have all the advantages or power
play one's ace to use one's best weapon or resource
within an ace of almost to the point of: he came within an ace of winning
informal superb; excellent
tennis to serve an ace against
golf, mainly US to play (a hole) in one stroke
US and Canadian to perform extremely well or score very highly in (an examination, etc)
Origin of ace
1British Dictionary definitions for ACE (2 of 2)
/ (eɪs) /
(in Britain) Advisory Centre for Education; a private organization offering advice on schools to parents
Allied Command Europe
angiotensin-converting enzyme: See ACE inhibitor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with ace
In addition to the idioms beginning with ace
- ace in the hole
- ace it
- ace out
also see:
- hold all the aces
- within an ace of
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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