Is 'trumps' always related to card games?

No, it is often used metaphorically to mean surpassing or outdoing something in various contexts.

How do you pronounce 'trumps' in British English?

It is pronounced /trʌmps/, with a short 'u' sound as in 'cup'.

Can 'trumps' be used as a noun?

Yes, in card games, 'trumps' can be a plural noun referring to the suit that outranks others, e.g., 'Hearts are trumps.'

What does the idiom 'come up trumps' mean?

It means to succeed unexpectedly or to provide a favorable outcome, often in a challenging situation.

trumps

Medium

UK/trʌmps/US/trʌmps/

Neutral

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

To surpass or outdo; in card games, to play a card that beats others.

Can imply overriding or taking precedence over something else, often used metaphorically.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Often derives from card game terminology, implying superiority or decisive advantage.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Minimal; both varieties use 'trumps' similarly in card games and metaphorical contexts. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.

Connotations

In contemporary usage, may evoke political associations due to the surname Trump, but as a verb/noun, it remains neutral.

Frequency

Slightly more frequent in American English in card game contexts, but comparable overall.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

trumps allcome up trumps

medium

trumps the competitiontrumps over

weak

trumps in the gametrumps someone's ace

Grammar

Valency Patterns

transitive: trump somethingintransitive: used in card games, e.g., hearts trumps

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

outdoesexceeds

Neutral

beatssurpasses

Weak

topsoverrides

Vocabulary

Antonyms

loses tofalls short ofis beaten by

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“come up trumps”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Used to describe outperforming rivals, e.g., 'Our innovation trumps market trends.'

Academic

Rare; may appear in game theory or metaphorical analyses of superiority.

Everyday

Common in card games and casual comparisons, e.g., 'Her idea trumps mine.'

Technical

In card games like bridge, refers to the suit that outranks others during play.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

She always trumps her opponents in chess.
In this round, diamonds trumps.

American English

He trumps the competition with his innovative ideas.
Spades trumps in this hand.

Examples

By CEFR Level

In cards, hearts trumps.
His answer trumps.

Her solution trumps all the others.
In bridge, clubs often trumps.

Despite the odds, our team trumps the opposition consistently.
The new policy trumps previous regulations.

The empirical data trumps the theoretical model, necessitating a revision.
His expertise trumps in academic debates.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a trump card in games—it always wins, helping remember 'trumps' as surpassing others.

Conceptual Metaphor

Superiority or winning as playing a trump card in a game.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

May confuse with 'труба' (trumpet) due to similar sound.
The verb might be mistranslated as 'бьёт' without considering contextual superiority.

Common Mistakes

Using 'trumps' as a singular noun, e.g., 'He has a trumps' instead of 'He has a trump card.'
Overusing in formal writing where 'surpasses' might be more appropriate.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In many card games, if spades are declared as , they beat other suits.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary meaning of 'trumps' outside card games?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is often used metaphorically to mean surpassing or outdoing something in various contexts.
: It is pronounced /trʌmps/, with a short 'u' sound as in 'cup'.
: Yes, in card games, 'trumps' can be a plural noun referring to the suit that outranks others, e.g., 'Hearts are trumps.'
: It means to succeed unexpectedly or to provide a favorable outcome, often in a challenging situation.

Explore

Related Words

outdo overtake