crossruff: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Proficiency)Highly technical (games/sports)
Quick answer
What does “crossruff” mean?
A specific manoeuvre in contract bridge where a player wins tricks by alternately trumping suits in two different hands.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific manoeuvre in contract bridge where a player wins tricks by alternately trumping suits in two different hands.
To execute this specific bridge manoeuvre.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning or usage. The term is identical in both varieties due to its technical nature.
Connotations
None beyond the technical description. May connote skilled or advanced play.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside of bridge contexts in both varieties. Its frequency is identical as the term is international bridge jargon.
Grammar
How to Use “crossruff” in a Sentence
[Subject/player] crossruffs [object/suits].[Subject/player] executes a crossruff.The plan is a crossruff in [suits].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crossruff” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Declarer decided to crossruff the diamonds and clubs to make the contract.
- If you crossruff from the start, you might lose control of the hand.
American English
- She crossruffed the remaining tricks to score an overtrick.
- The best line is to crossruff the majors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Only in very specific papers on game theory or contract bridge.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside of card game discussions.
Technical
Exclusively used in the context of contract bridge strategy and commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crossruff”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crossruff”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crossruff”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'trick' or 'strategy'.
- Spelling as 'cross-ruff' (though sometimes hyphenated, solid spelling is standard).
- Pronouncing 'ruff' to rhyme with 'fluff' instead of 'rough'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is highly technical jargon specific to contract bridge and would not be understood in general conversation.
It can function as both a noun (referring to the manoeuvre) and a verb (describing the action of performing it).
A 'ruff' is using a trump card to win a trick when you have no cards of the suit led. A 'crossruff' is a series of plays where you alternate ruffing in two different hands (typically dummy and declarer) in two different suits.
It comes from an older card game term, likely from French 'rogue' or Italian 'rocca', related to trumping or playing a trump card.
A specific manoeuvre in contract bridge where a player wins tricks by alternately trumping suits in two different hands.
Crossruff is usually highly technical (games/sports) in register.
Crossruff: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɒs ˌrʌf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɔːs ˌrʌf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CROSSing guard alternating traffic from two streets. In bridge, you CROSSRUFF by alternating which hand you use to RUFF (trump) tricks from two different suits.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (domain-specific technical term with no common conceptual mapping).
Practice
Quiz
What activity is the term 'crossruff' exclusively associated with?