play your cards
Use advantages carefully
To play your cards is to use whatever advantages or resources you have in a situation.
The phrase comes from card games, where success depends on how skillfully you handle the hand you're dealt.
Usually appears with an adverb: If you play your cards right, you might get that promotion.
To play your cards close to the chest is to keep your intentions hidden.
- strategyPlanned approach to goals
- game planPredetermined approach to winning
- bluffCalculated false front
- poker faceIntentionally expressionless look
- gambleStake on uncertain outcome
poker · hand · bet · deal · all in · risk · high stakes · cunning · shrewd · calculated · trump · ace · fold · wager · chess · move · scheme · tactical
play your cardsthrow caution to the wind
Act recklessly, disregarding consequences
go off half-cocked · shoot from the hip · wing it · bet the farm · fumble the ball
play your cardsshow your hand
Reveal hidden intentions
spill the beans · let the cat out of the bag · give the game away · bare all
play your cardslet the chips fall where they may
Accept outcomes without interference
play, plays, played, playing, player, players, playful, playfully, playfulness