# What's the best word to replace "trump" in its common usage? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 11, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347 "2020-09-11T14:38:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/1 "2020-09-11T14:38:07Z")
My family likes to play cards. It’s become a running joke that we pretend to spit every time we use the word “trump.” > You trumped my ace? (_spit_) Apart from it’s origin in card games, “trump” has come to be a common term for one thing that’s intrinsically more important than another. > Health concerns trump my desire to eat pizza for every meal. Unfortunately, Individual 1 has tainted the word “trump,” probably forever. So my question is, is there another word we can use? Do we have to invent one? ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/2 "2020-09-11T17:27:50Z")
Overruled? Surpassed? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/3 "2020-09-11T17:33:44Z")
How about obama? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/4 "2020-09-11T17:46:36Z")
I was going to suggest “obama,” too. Seems a particularly appropriate substitution. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/5 "2020-09-11T17:55:42Z")
“Barack” rolls off the tongue nicely. I like the spitting, very Corner Gas. I’m going to start doing that too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/6 "2020-09-11T17:55:59Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > Overruled? Surpassed? Among serious suggestions, “override” is usually good. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/7 "2020-09-11T17:56:17Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I was going to suggest “obama,” too. Seems a particularly appropriate substitution. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > How about obama? “Okay, spades is obama.” Awkward, but I could probably get used to it. “Wear your bike helmet, because safety obamas your desire for the breeze in your hair.” I like it! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/8 "2020-09-11T18:00:35Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > “Okay, spades is obama.” Awkward, but I could probably get used to it. In Bridge, Trumps could be Obamas. But “No Trumps” should not be called “No Obamas”, they should be called “Bidens”. Or, even better, if he ends up in jail, the name of the prosecutor who puts him there. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/9 "2020-09-11T18:50:13Z")
To avoid both the word “trump” and also avoid using a word that remind you of why you aren’t saying “trump” every time you use it AND to avoid using a word in an entirely new way (neologism), you could use “master”, as in: “OK, bid is four, spade is master suit” “I just mastered your king with this four” “Uh, what’s master in this hand?” ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/10 "2020-09-11T19:06:19Z")
I haven’t been able to bid a suit contract for nearly four years. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/11 "2020-09-11T19:06:26Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > To avoid both the word “trump” and also avoid using a word that remind you of why you aren’t saying “trump” every time you use it AND to avoid using a word in an entirely new way (neologism), you could use “master”, as in: > > “OK, bid is four, spade is master suit” > > “I just mastered your king with this four” > > “Uh, what’s master in this hand?” Hmm, I hadn’t considered that saying “Obama” would remind me of the t-word. The best word I can think of that fits both card-playing and general usage is “supersedes,” but that’s unlikely to catch on. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/12 "2020-09-11T19:17:56Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > So my question is, is there another word we can use? Do we have to invent one? No way. Why should I change? He’s the one who sucks. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/13 "2020-09-11T19:22:19Z")
I suggest “Rank”. Applies both to DJT himself and to card play. “Hearts are rank”. “I ranked your ace”. “I pulled rank and got the trick”. “I bid four No Rank”. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/14 "2020-09-11T19:29:14Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > unlikely to catch on. That was my first thought as well, but I’m a bit of a big vocabulary user anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/15 "2020-09-11T19:30:09Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > So my question is, is there another word we can use? Do we have to invent one? > > No way. Why should I change? He’s the one who sucks. There is one benefit to keeping the word: Any time someone asks “What’s trump?” everyone else can volunteer replies like “a lying scumbag” or “the worst president ever.” But trust me, the joke wears thin. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/16 "2020-09-11T20:09:10Z")
“Four no trump” Pass Pass Pass! But on the other hand, we have the phrase “trumped-up charges” for instance. I think that usage can stay. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/17 "2020-09-11T20:19:00Z")
In bridge, why not just “(the) suit”? “Three no suit” “I suited your queen” ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/18 "2020-09-11T21:25:05Z")
“I clubbed your queen” makes sense. “I spaded your queen” sounds like veterinary surgery. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/19 "2020-09-11T21:29:48Z")
I am saying, use the word “suit” to replace the word “trump”. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347/20 "2020-09-11T21:30:28Z")
I’m confused. Why do we need to change a common word when in four months the other meaning will be obliterated from the language? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-word-to-replace-trump-in-its-common-usage/920347.md?page=2)