uno

A delegate raises their hand to speak at the UNO assembly.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • Card game: "Uno" is a proprietary card game played with a specially printed deck, where players aim to be the first to discard all their cards by matching them by colour or number, and using action cards (e.g., Skip, Reverse, Wild) to affect gameplay.
   • A call in the game: In the game of Uno, a player calls out "Uno" when they have only one card left in their hand, as a required warning to other players.

2. Abbreviation (proper noun):

   • United Nations Organization: "UNO" (often capitalized) is an abbreviation for the United Nations Organization, an international body founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among nations.

Usage Examples

• Noun (card game):

  • We played a round of Uno last night, and I won by discarding my last card. (A session of the card game.)
  • She shouted "Uno!" as she placed her penultimate card on the pile. (The required warning when a player has one card left.)

• Abbreviation (UNO):

  • The UNO delegates met to discuss climate change policy. (The United Nations Organization held a meeting.)

Advanced Usage

• "to call Uno": to announce that one has only one card remaining in the card game.

  • If you forget to call Uno and another player catches you, you must draw two penalty cards. (The rule requires the warning to avoid a penalty.)

• "Uno reverse card": a metaphorical reference to the game's "Reverse" action card, used in internet slang to describe a situation where an argument or action is turned back against the originator.

  • He criticized her for being late, but she played the Uno reverse card by reminding him he was late last week. (She turned the criticism back on him.)

Variants and Related Words

• Uno-like (adj): resembling or characteristic of the card game Uno.

  • The new app has Uno-like mechanics, including matching colours and special action cards. (Similar to the game Uno.)

• Uno player (n): a person who plays the game Uno.

  • As an experienced Uno player, she knows all the strategy tricks. (Someone skilled at the game.)

Synonyms

• Card game: a game played with a deck of cards (general term, not specific to Uno).
• Matching game: a type of game where players match cards by attributes (e.g., colour, number).

Phrasal Verbs

• Uno out: to eliminate or win by discarding all cards in Uno.
  • She managed to Uno out after playing a Wild card. (She won the game by getting rid of her last card.)

Related Idioms

• Play the Uno card: to use a surprise or game-changing tactic, often in a non-game context.

  • In the debate, he played the Uno card by bringing up an unexpected fact. (He introduced a sudden, decisive element.)

• Call Uno on someone: to catch someone in a mistake or hold them accountable, akin to the penalty in the game.

  • She called Uno on him for forgetting to do the dishes. (She pointed out his oversight.)