double solitaire
LowInformal
Definition
Meaning
A variant of the single-player card game Solitaire (also known as Patience) designed for two players, who play on separate decks but share a common foundation pile or have other interacting rules.
A state of simultaneous but uncoordinated or non-interactive activity by two individuals in close proximity, even outside of the literal card game context. Often used metaphorically to describe two people engaged in parallel but isolated pursuits, ignoring each other.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While the term's primary denotation is a specific two-player card game, its metaphorical use is equally common and carries a slightly negative or ironic connotation of loneliness within proximity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the base game is more commonly called 'Patience'. The term 'double solitaire' is understood, but the metaphorical usage may be less frequent. In American English, 'solitaire' is the dominant term for the single-player game, making 'double solitaire' more immediately recognizable as a variant.
Connotations
Connotations are similar in both dialects. The game itself is neutral; the metaphorical usage suggests isolation, emotional distance, or a lack of meaningful interaction.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to the higher baseline frequency of 'solitaire' over 'patience'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] play(s) double solitaire.Their relationship was (like) a game of double solitaire.It felt like double solitaire.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Playing double solitaire (metaphorical for a disconnected relationship).”
- “A marriage turned into double solitaire.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used. Could metaphorically describe two departments working in silos on similar problems without communication.
Academic
Occurs in sociology or psychology texts as a metaphor for social isolation in modern life.
Everyday
Most common. Used to describe the card game or a situation where two people in the same room are absorbed in their own phones/activities.
Technical
Refers specifically to the card game variant with defined rules (e.g., 'Double Klondike').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They decided to double-solitaire for the evening, each with their own deck.
- We were practically double-solitairing, despite sitting at the same table.
American English
- After the argument, they just double-solitaired in silence for hours.
- We didn't talk; we just double-solitaired on our phones.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We played double solitaire.
- It is a game for two people.
- Instead of talking, they spent the evening playing double solitaire.
- Do you know the rules for double solitaire?
- Their relationship had deteriorated into a kind of emotional double solitaire, where they shared a house but not their lives.
- The conference was so boring that he and his colleague ended up playing double solitaire on their laptops.
- The film portrayed modern urban life as a vast, quiet game of double solitaire, where connectivity devices ironically fostered deeper isolation.
- Their intellectual partnership, once vibrant, had settled into a sterile double solitaire of publishing parallel but non-intersecting papers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'double' meaning two, and 'solitaire' meaning alone. It's a paradox: two people being alone together, just like in the game.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONSHIPS/INTERACTIONS ARE GAMES; LACK OF COMMUNICATION IS PHYSICAL DISTANCE WITHIN PROXIMITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'двойной бриллиант' (which is a gemstone). The game 'Solitaire' is 'косынка' or 'пасьянс' in Russian. 'Double solitaire' could be described as 'пасьянс для двоих'. The metaphor requires a descriptive phrase, e.g., 'они жили рядом, но каждый в своём мире'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simply 'playing solitaire twice'. Incorrectly capitalising it as a proper noun (unless at the start of a sentence). Using it to describe a highly collaborative activity.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'double solitaire' MOST likely used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, no. Most variants are not directly competitive; players are trying to complete their own layouts, sometimes racing or indirectly interacting via shared foundation piles. The metaphorical use inherently lacks competition, focusing on isolation.
Yes, its primary non-literal use is as a metaphor for two people engaging in parallel but non-interactive activities, emphasizing emotional or social distance despite physical closeness.
Solitaire (Patience) is a single-player card game. Double solitaire is a variant for two players, with specific rules allowing for interaction (like building on shared aces) or simply playing side-by-side. The key difference is the designed-for-two aspect.
It is generally negative or melancholic, highlighting a failure to connect, loneliness within a relationship, or the isolating nature of modern parallel lives. It rarely describes a positive, mutually desired quiet coexistence.