Dictionary definition of “hit the deuces”

hit the deuces

v. phr. in a penitentiary or prison, to summon help. Subjects: English, Crime & Prisons

Etymological Note: This appears to derive from the radio code “222” used by prison guards to call for assistance. The term may be specific to Federal prisons.

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Citations: *1999 Tom Manning Tom Manning—Poetry—Big House (Leavenworth, Kan.) (Aug. 30) “Another Day in the Big House”: Jarred awake—screws screaming/Hit the deuces (222) back to your cells/Lock-in, fist fight/Shattered teeth—splattered blood. 2002 [Fee-X] @ Texas Prison Talk Online (June 11) “Dirty little drinker”: The other CO up in the unit hit the deuces when he flew off the ladder, just because it scared her so bad. 2003 [Spikeman] @ Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Prison Talk Online (Apr. 23) “Is everything cop-esthetic?”: Pretty soon Pavlov is running for his life being chased by a drag queen inmate with a midget broom. Did I mention that Sheila was wearing panties and a homemade bra? The entire unit watched in awe as this went on for 15 minutes or so. It took poor Pavlov that long to remember to hit the dueces and summon help. 2004 Seth M. Ferranti @ Glenville, W. Va. HoopsHype (Nov. 27) “No love for Ron”: Man, I seen the guard looking all scared and shit.…Ready to hit the deuces. He didn’t know what the fuck was going on. 2005 John Bowers Salt Lake City Weekly (Utah) (Apr. 28) “Cell Survivor”: An officer “hits the deuces”—a button on his hand-held radio—which summons a hundred guards like ants to a picnic.

Posted 15 Jun 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

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