Snake Eyes

In gambling, snake eyes is the outcome of rolling the dice in a game and getting only one pip on each die. The pair of pips resembles a pair of eyes, which is appended to the term 'snake' because of the long-standing association of this word with treachery and betrayal. The dictionary of etymology traces that use of the term back to 1929, although it may be traced all the way back to the ancient Roman dice games, where 'Dogs' represented two ones. They referred to this as "the dog throw". In modern parlance, it refers to such a roll in any game involving dice. Snake eyes also refers to looking one way and passing the ball the other way in the game of Taps.

Read more about Snake Eyes:  Games, Probability

Famous quotes containing the words snake and/or eyes:

    The Gospel of the army is cunning, as of all other human activities. The wisdom of the snake under the meekness of the sheep is what wins out.
    The first Commandment is—never let them get anything on you—
    The second: Graft—get privileges others haven’t got—worm yourself into confidence
    The Third—seem neat and prosperous—as if you had money in the bank—
    John Dos Passos (1896–1970)

    Cowardice shuts the eyes till the sky is not larger than a calf-skin: shuts the eyes so that we cannot see the horse that is running away with us; worse, shuts the eyes of the mind and chills the heart.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)