pas de deux

noun

ˌpä-də-ˈdər 

-ˈdə,

-ˈdü 

plural pas de deux ˌpä-də-ˈdər(z) 

-ˈdə(z),

-ˈdü(z)

1

: a dance or figure for two performers

2

: an intricate relationship or activity involving two parties or things

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

But his love for her is platonic, seeing the Mermaid more like a chummy little sister by stealing her nose and palling around amid a few gorgeous pas de deux. —Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2023

And given the Black Swan dance coordinator’s bona fides in the ballet world, Millepied has added in a perverse amount of pas de deux, as well as flamenco numbers, street-dance showcases, and Broadway-style showstoppers. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2023

Annia Hidalgo and Davit Hovhannisyan created a stirring, powerful couple, in a poignant, sculpted pas de deux. —Elaine Schmidt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2022

The result is a pretty impressive pas de deux. —Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2014

What is uncharacteristic for Highsmith about this narrative arrangement is not the frigid romance of male malefactors who, in spite of appearances, perceive each other as kindred spirits; many of her later plots consist of similarly bloody masculine pas de deux. —Benjamin Kunkel, The New Republic, 8 Nov. 2021

During the last act of each film, the final girl and Jason lock into a grisly pas de deux. —Grant Sutton, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2022

The second pas de deux occurs in Juliet’s bedroom, after the secret wedding. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2023

Soloist India Bradley recalls working on a pas de deux in Partita. —Vulture, 19 Jan. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

French, literally, step for two

First Known Use

circa 1762, in the meaning defined at sense 1