THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY..................................................................

• void: what many players seem to have between their ears
• unbalanced: (adjective) to describe a player who is completely "off his head"
• loser: a term applied to both a card or a player destined never to win
• discard: lobbing away a card in another suit. The term originated in 1793 when during a game of rubber bridge, a rather loud German was heard to say " Vot to throw away....dis card....or dat card? "
• improper call: an inappropriate remark made at the bridge table such as: "cocked that up"....."I don't think I should have come tonight, partner"......."There's nothing wrong with the odd bottom now and then."
• attitude signal: a clear warning one player might give to his partner, which clearly states that any mistakes on his/her part will give rise to the most severe reprisals.