Spanishromper la baraja
Meaning: To abandon a game or situation in frustration; to take one's ball and go home.
Literally: To break the deck of cards
Example: “Cuando le pitaron falta, rompió la baraja y se fue del campo.” — When they called the foul, he took his ball and went home, walking off the field.
English equivalent: To take one's ball and go home
Equivalents in other languages
English: take one's ball and go home
Origin: A card player who is losing, or who thinks the game is rigged, can end it by tearing up the deck (la baraja) so that no one can play on. The fuller saying o jugamos todos o rompemos la baraja (either we all play or we break the deck) spells out the threat. Said of politics or negotiations, it means walking away and wrecking the arrangement rather than accepting its terms.
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