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when the chips are down

When the pressure is on; when the situation is urgent or critical.

Etymology:

  • From the game of poker: chips laid down on the table are staked.
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When the chips are down, you need to make tough decisions.

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Submitted on September 01, 2009

Additional definitions for 'when the chips are down':

when the chips are downA difficult situation in which you are forced to decide what is important to you.
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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to when the chips are down

whip downwatered-downwipe downwash downwind downwhat's going downwatered-downwolf downzoom downwear downwind downwatered-downwrite downwash down

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