the deck is stacked
Meaning: The situation is unfairly arranged so that someone will lose.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Small farmers feel the deck is stacked against them.”
Category: Daily Life
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 idioms — Daily Life
- after me, the deluge — I don't care what happens after I am gone.
- slow on the uptake — Slow to understand.
- kiss something goodbye — To accept that one has lost something or will never get it.
- set one's sights on — To decide to try to get or achieve something.
- God forbid — Used to say that one hopes something bad will not happen.
- kill them all and let God sort them out — A grim or joking call to act ruthlessly without distinguishing innocent from guilty.
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.
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