Usage of The Word "ruff" Vs. "trump"
"Ruff" is normally a verb, meaning "to play a trump card when a non-trump suit was led". "To trump" can be used as a synonym of "to ruff", but "ruff" is normally preferred, for clarity. As a noun, "ruff" and "trump" are completely different -- "a ruff" means only "an instance of ruffing", while "(a) trump" means only "the suit that outranks all other suits", or "a card in this suit". Hence:
- One can "give a ruff" to partner but not "give a trump".
- "Hearts are trumps" but not "Hearts are ruffs".
- "Cross ruffing" and "cross trumping" are both correct, but "cross ruffing" is preferred.
- "Ruff and discard" is common usage but "trump and discard" is not.
Read more about this topic: Ruff (cards)
Famous quotes containing the words usage of the, usage of, usage, word, ruff and/or trump:
“Girls who put out are tramps. Girls who don’t are ladies. This is, however, a rather archaic usage of the word. Should one of you boys happen upon a girl who doesn’t put out, do not jump to the conclusion that you have found a lady. What you have probably found is a lesbian.”
—Fran Lebowitz (b. 1951)
“Girls who put out are tramps. Girls who don’t are ladies. This is, however, a rather archaic usage of the word. Should one of you boys happen upon a girl who doesn’t put out, do not jump to the conclusion that you have found a lady. What you have probably found is a lesbian.”
—Fran Lebowitz (b. 1951)
“I am using it [the word ‘perceive’] here in such a way that to say of an object that it is perceived does not entail saying that it exists in any sense at all. And this is a perfectly correct and familiar usage of the word.”
—A.J. (Alfred Jules)
“‘Tis a sort of duty to be rich, that it may be in one’s power to do good, riches being another word for power.”
—Mary Wortley, Lady Montagu (1689–1762)
“My great brother
Lord of the Song
wears the ruff of
forest bear.”
—Denise Levertov (b. 1923)
“Husband a lie, and trump it up in some extraordinary emergency.”
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719)