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play one's cards right

card
P p

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kahrd]
    • /pleɪ wʌnz kɑrd raɪt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kahrd]
    • /pleɪ wʌnz kɑrd raɪt/

Definitions of play one's cards right words

  • noun play one's cards right a usually rectangular piece of stiff paper, thin pasteboard, or plastic for various uses, as to write information on or printed as a means of identifying the holder: a 3″ × 5″ file card; a membership card. 1
  • noun play one's cards right one of a set of thin pieces of cardboard with spots, figures, etc., used in playing various games; playing card. 1
  • noun play one's cards right cards, (usually used with a singular verb) a game or games played with such a set. the playing of such a game: to win at cards. Casino. the winning of 27 cards or more. Whist. tricks won in excess of six. 1
  • noun play one's cards right Also called greeting card. a piece of paper or thin cardboard, usually folded, printed with a message of holiday greeting, congratulations, or other sentiment, often with an illustration or decorations, for mailing to a person on an appropriate occasion. 1
  • noun play one's cards right something useful in attaining an objective, as a course of action or position of strength, comparable to a high card held in a game: If negotiation fails, we still have another card to play. 1
  • noun play one's cards right a specified topic that elicits strong reactions, brought up as part of a strategic move to gain an advantage: She was accused of playing the gender card when her male boss passed her over for promotion. He pulled the race card by branding his Muslim opponent as radical. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of play one's cards right

First appearance:

before 1350
One of the 20% oldest English words
1350-1400; Middle English carde, unexplained variant of carte

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Play one's cards right

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

play one's cards right popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

See also

Matching words

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