when the chips are down
In dire straits
When the chips are down describes a moment of crisis or decision when the outcome really matters.
The phrase comes from gambling, where chips represent money at stake, and suggests the point when talk ends and results are determined.
It often appears in contexts about someone's true character or reliability: When the chips are down, you find out who your real friends are.
She always performs when the chips are down.
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- backs against the wallDesperate, with no retreat
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
success · courage · failure · turning point · emergency · grit · nerves of steel · moment of truth · make or break · high stakes · under pressure · perseverance · triumph · fortitude · last resort · clutch · determination · vindication