| Idiom | Chips Are Down |
|---|---|
| Example | Girls, the chips are down. If we don't win this game, we're out of the playoffs. |
| Meaning | the situation is urgent and has to be dealt with now |
| Origin | This saying appeared in the United States in the 19th century and comes from gambling, probably poker. Chips are small plastic disks used like money for betting. A gambler puts his chips in front of him to show that he is willing to risk a certain amount of money on a bet. When his pile of chips is down (that is, his money is low), his situation is bad, maybe even desperate. Today the expression "chips are down" refers to any critical situation in life, such as in sports, business, or politics, and not just card playing. |
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