when the chips are down
Meaning: When the situation is critical; when things are going badly.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The expression probably originates from a game like poker in which the players use `chips' to represent money they are betting. To be `down on chips' would be to not have many, or much money, left.
More idioms — Daily Life
- whip someone or something into shape — To mold or assemble something into its proper shape quickly.
- white-collar worker — An office worker.
- white lie — A minor, polite, or harmless lie.
- whitewash — To conceal something bad; to make something look better than it really is.
- the whole kit and caboodle — The entire amount; the whole lot.
- go the whole nine yards — The entire amount; (to go) all out.
More English idioms
- wing it — To improvise; to do something without planning or preparation.
- wipe the slate clean — To set a situation right or erase something bad.
- yellow — Cowardly.
- yellow journalism — Journalism that is exaggerated or unnecessarily sensational.
- with flying colors — Triumphantly; victoriously.
- come from the wrong side of the tracks — The poor part of town.
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