Wondering what the expression 'play your cards right' means? Then you're in the right place. In this article, you'll learn the meaning of this famous idiom, as well as its possible origins and how to use it in a sentence.
But if you're just after the quick version, here it is:
'Play your cards right' is an idiom, which means you can't take it literally. We aren't talking about an actual game of cards here. But it can help to think of the literal meaning in order to understand the metaphorical sense. Imagine you're playing a game of cards; what would you achieve by playing your cards right? Well, you would win, of course.
Imagine, for instance, that you're gunning for a promotion at work. Your friend might say to you:
You have to play your cards right, here; say 'yes' to all the social networking events and get the managers on your side.
You can replace the pronoun 'your' with any other pronoun where relevant, and you can also change the form of the verb 'play.'
Some of the most common forms you'll see are:
The exact origin of the idiom "play your cards right" is not well-documented. Still, it likely has its roots in card games, particularly in games like poker and bridge, where players must strategically decide when to use their playing cards to their best advantage.
There are many idioms in use in the English language that come from card-playing, including:
The expression can be found as far back as the 1600s. Still, in its literal sense, it started to gain popularity in the 1900s, when it began to be used figuratively in a broader context beyond card games when it refers to making strategic decisions or choices in various situations to achieve a favorable outcome.
Now we've covered the idiom's meaning and its possible origins, here are some examples of it being used in a sentence. I'll show you some of its most popular forms, including present participle, past indefinite, third-person singular, and past perfect.
If you play your cards right at the interview and show off your skills, you might just land that dream job.
She knew that to win the negotiation, she had to play her cards right and stay patient.
Playing your cards right in a competitive market means offering unique products and excellent customer service.
Tom realized that if he played his cards right academically, he could earn a scholarship to his preferred college.
The key to success in the stock market is to play your cards right and diversify your investments.
Sarah plays her cards right by networking with influential people in her industry, which helps her career immensely.
In politics, it's crucial to play your cards right to gain the support of key constituents.
If they had played their cards right and focused on their strengths, they might have won the championship.
If you want to make a good impression at the office, make sure to play your cards right and get to know your colleagues.
Playing your cards right in a game of chess requires strategic thinking and anticipating your opponent's moves.
With English being such a rich language, there's always more than one way to say something. The same is true of 'Out of the frying pan into the fire.'
Here are just some of the other ways you can say it:
Well, that pretty much concludes this article on the popular idiom. If you want to tell someone to do the right things to achieve the desired results, tell them to play their cards right.
Are you ready to learn more English phrases and expand your vocabulary? Check out our idioms blog for even more idioms, expressions, sayings, and more!
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