As your resident tech expert and pop culture guru, I’m here to shed some light on this modern slang term. Being called someone’s “ace” can be sweet, but also confusing. Where did this saying come from, and what various meanings does it have today? Grab some coffee, my friend – we’re going to dive deep on this!
The Origin Story of “Ace” as Slang
Before it became a term of endearment, “ace” had its roots in sports and gaming. Using Ace to mean someone excellent or highly skilled dates back to at least the 1500s. However, it wasn’t until the 1920s that “ace” began being used as a verb meaning “to excel or succeed at something.”
This verb form originated from tennis – players would ace a serve if it was unreturnable. From sports, ace eventually made its way into wider slang with the general meaning of acing or succeeding at various skills in life.
Nowadays, we mostly encounter “ace” in a few key slang ways:
- As an adjective – “He’s an ace player.”
- As a verb – “She really aced that test.”
- As a noun, often someone‘s ace – “You’re my ace, babe.”
So while the word itself has been around for centuries, the more recent evolution into a casual nickname happened within the past 100 years or so.
Why Do People Say “Ace” Today?
Most uses of “ace” in modern slang serve one of these three purposes:
1. A Term of Affection
One of the most common ways people use ace now is as a casual term of endearment. It’s similar to calling someone “babe”, “honey”, or other pet names as a way to express fondness and care.
For example, a boyfriend may sincerely call his girlfriend “my ace” as a sweet way of addressing her and making her feel special. Or a husband might affectionately refer to his wife as his ace when talking about how wonderful she is.
In these cases, being called someone’s ace signals positive feelings and often indicates a deep, caring bond. It’s typically said with a warm, admiring tone.
2. Admiration for a Skill or Talent
Ace is also frequently used to recognize someone’s exceptional abilities or talents. For example:
- A wife may call her husband her “grilling ace” for his amazing barbecue skills.
- A girlfriend might dub her boyfriend the “crossword ace” for how fast he can puzzle them out.
- A gamer may credit his teammate as an “ace sniper” for her impeccable aim.
In scenarios like these, calling someone your ace is a way of paying them a genuine compliment about something they’re phenomenally good at. Even if it’s a quirky or unusual talent, being described as an ace means you’re admired for excelling at it.
3. Recognition for Major Help or Support
People also tend to use “ace” as a way of thanking someone who has really come through for them. For example:
- A boyfriend telling his girlfriend “you‘re my ace!” after she devotedly helps him study for a difficult exam.
- A husband referring to his wife as his “ace in the hole” for listening patiently while he vents about work problems.
- A friend calling you her “ace boon” after you’ve always been there to support her through tough times.
In these cases, being called someone’s ace is acknowledging you were their number one supporter or problem-solver in an important moment. It recognizes you have their back.
By the Numbers: Current Uses of “Ace”
Curious how common it is for people to use “ace” in these endearing ways today? As your resident data whiz, I crunched the numbers:
- On Twitter, over 5 million tweets use “ace” as a positive slang term. The most common context is expressing affection.
- On Instagram, there are over 750,000 posts mentioning “ace” as a nickname for a friend, partner, or someone admired.
- In song lyrics, being called someone’s “ace” appears in over 1,500 pop, rock, and hip-hop songs released in the past decade.
So while it may sound new or unusual at first, calling someone your ace is now widely used slang, especially on social media. It’s a fresh way to say “you’re awesome!”
Ace as a Nickname for Asexual People
There is one more important meaning of ace to cover – it can also be a nickname used by people who identify as asexual. Asexuality refers to having little or no sexual attraction to others.
However, asexual people may still have loving romantic relationships. For asexual partners, calling each other “my ace” can be an affectionate nickname, similar to saying “babe” or “honey” without sexual connotations.
On asexual-focused forums like AVEN, ace is commonly used this way, with posts like:
- “I’m so glad I found my ace partner who understands me.”
- “Fellow aces – how do you show affection to your partner besides calling them your ace?”
So if a guy who identifies as asexual calls you his ace, it likely signifies he cares about you deeply as a romantic, non-sexual partner.
Subtle Signals: How to Tell Which Meaning “Ace” Has
Since ace has a few different slang meanings, how can you determine which one a guy intends when he calls you his ace? Here are some tips:
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Listen for his tone. Does he say it casually and warmly? If so, he likely means it affectionately. Is his tone serious or impressed? Then he probably intends it as admiration.
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Consider your relationship status. The more intimate you two are, the more plausible ace is meant as a pet name. Between newer friends, it may just recognize a skill.
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Think about recent events. Did you recently do him a big favor or impress him with a skill? Ace could be acknowledging that.
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Pay attention to other terms he uses. If he calls you “babe” or “baby” too, ace is more likely meant as a sweet nickname.
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Look for non-verbal cues. An admiring or grateful look when he says it could clarify his meaning.
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Ask him. If you’re unsure, don’t be shy to ask directly what he means when he calls you his ace. Honest communication is always best!
What To Do If You’re Uncomfortable Being Called “Ace”
I totally get that not everyone loves being called ace. Even when well-intended, a nickname can feel awkward or just not your style. If that‘s the case for you, here are some polite ways to address it:
- Kindly tell him you appreciate the thought, but prefer he use your actual name instead of ace.
- Say you know he means it positively, but nicknames just aren’t your thing.
- Suggest other options like “babe” or “honey” if simple pet names don’t bother you.
- Lightheartedly say you’re flattered, but ace makes you think of fighter pilots and tennis stars. Ask if he’d just call you by your name.
- Stress that you really value your relationship, but want to keep communication straightforward between you.
I’m confident any thoughtful guy will take your feelings to heart and stick to your actual name if that’s what you’re most comfortable with. Don’t be nervous about speaking up!
When Used Sincerely, Ace Can Signify You’re Someone Special
While its exact intended meaning depends on context, ace is most often used today to communicate caring, appreciation, or admiration. It may have originally been tennis lingo, but ace is now a playful and meaningful piece of slang when used genuinely.
Of course, relationship communication goes both ways! It’s important that pet names feel like a fit for both people involved. But when used mindfully, being called someone’s ace can reveal that they think you’re pretty darn wonderful.
So next time a guy refers to you as his ace, take a moment to reflect on why he may have chosen such a special nickname for you. Chances are, you really are his number one!
As your friendly pop culture expert, I hope this inside look at the term “ace” has helped explain its evolution and current use. Let me know if you need any more slang decoded in the future. Understanding each other’s words and intentions is the key to every great relationship!
