IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishthe deck is stacked
Meaning: The situation is unfairly arranged so that someone will lose.
Example: “Small farmers feel the deck is stacked against them.”
Origin: A "stacked" deck of cards has been secretly arranged by a cheat. The phrase is American from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Les dés sont pipés Literally: The dice are loaded
More English idioms
- lie through one's teeth To lie openly and shamelessly.
- a little bird told me I learned it from a secret source I won't name.
- put one's feet up To relax and rest.
- blow a gasket To lose one's temper completely.
- hearts and flowers Excessive sentimentality.
- play hooky To skip school or work without permission.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Red lorry, yellow lorry. The 'l/r' alternation drill — deceptively short, yet almost impossible to say fast withou…
- How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? A 'w/ch/ck' drill that accelerates comically — and nobody really knows the answer.
- The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick. Believed by Guinness to be among the hardest in English — 'six/sick/sheikh/sheep' blur in…
Keep exploring