shuffle the cards

Randomize the deck

To shuffle the cards is to mix a deck by riffling, cutting, or sliding cards together so their order becomes random before dealing.

The phrase extends to any reorganization that redistributes elements unpredictably: Management shuffled the cards, and suddenly I was reporting to someone new.

Related

fresh start · reshuffle · cut the deck · cut · deal · dealer's choice · riffle · draw · redistribute · mix up · poker chips · poker night · adapt · reconfigure · improvise · innovate · casino · bridge

Opposites
RANDOMIZATION vs. ORDERING

shuffle the cardsstack the deck

Secretly arrange for advantage

cold deck · cheat · palm cards

Family

shuffle, shuffled, shuffling, shuffles, shuffler, card, cards, carding, carded

Familiarity
Top 100,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G