Face Card Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms face card American

noun

1. the king, queen, or jack of playing cards.

face card British

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): court card. (in a pack of playing cards) a king, queen, or jack of any suit

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of face card

First recorded in 1665–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His role was to be a “face card,” a former pro athlete whose presence was meant to lure unwitting victims.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the most effective tricks at their disposal were known as “face cards”—former professional athletes, such as Billups, who were there to attract potential victims to the game.

From The Wall Street Journal

Former professional athletes, described by prosecutors as "face cards", were enlisted to help in the scheme and entice victims into playing.

From BBC

The victims were allegedly lured to play in these games with former professional athletes, who acted as "face cards" in the scheme.

From BBC

In the first two seasons, the difficulty levels of the Borderland games were designated by the number on playing cards, with actual people embodying the face cards for the most challenging games.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.