playing one's cards right
Acting with cunning
Playing one's cards right means acting shrewdly to maximize advantage in a situation, like a card player making optimal moves with the hand they've been dealt.
The phrase usually implies that success depends on one's own choices rather than luck: If you play your cards right, you could make partner within five years.
Often used to suggest that a favorable outcome is within reach but not guaranteed.
- strategic thinkingDeliberate long-range planning
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
- flexibilityAbility to adapt easily
- timingArt of choosing moments
- biding one's timePatiently awaiting opportunity
advantage · winning move · foresight · planning · intuition · prioritization · pragmatism · situational awareness · reading the room · maneuvering · opportunism · risk assessment · tactics · cleverness · long game · improvisation · judgment · responsiveness
playing one's cards rightdropping the ball
Failing at a crucial moment
blowing it · shooting oneself in the foot · snatching defeat from the jaws of victory · messing up · overplaying one's hand
playing one's cards rightthrowing caution to the wind
playing one's cards rightbeing one's own worst enemy
Causing your own problems
cutting off one's nose to spite one's face · shooting oneself in the foot · burning bridges · self-destructing · missing the boat
played, player, players, playing, carding, rights, rightly, rightful, rightfully