Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

trust everybody, but cut the cards

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.34 in modern English

Syllables: trust ev-ery-body, but -cut the -cards
IPA

50

Scrabble Score

28

Letters

5

Syllables

13

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

One should have general faith in the good intentions of others, but one should never neglect to take appropriate precautions against being deceived or cheated.

Example Sentences

"A deep-dyed fatalist, sentimental yet cynical—"Trust everybody," he is fond of saying, "but cut the cards"—his running history of his Chicago tribe is a struggle of clan and family survival, with little help from outsiders."
"I was often reminded of Mr. Dooley's famous admonition to “Trust everybody, but cut the cards.” We did “cut the cards” by installing a fake camera high on one wall and pointed at the cash register."
"It's a version of President Ronald Reagen's famous statements “trust but verify” and “trust everybody, but cut the cards.” We the public are tired of being duped, and we are now ready to hold companies responsible and accountable."

Etymology

Reportedly coined by Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936) and expressed in dialect by his character "Mr. Dooley" in Mr. Dooley's Philosophy (1900), p. 260: "Thrust ivrybody—but cut th' ca-ards."

Inflected Forms

trust everybody, but always cut the cards (alternative) trust everybody, but cut the deck (alternative) trust every man, but cut the cards (alternative) trust your friends, but cut the cards (alternative)

Phrases

divide and choose trust, but verify

Frequently Paired Words

divide and choose trust, but verify

Questions

What does trust everybody, but cut the cards mean?: One should have general faith in the good intentions of others, but one should never neglect to take appropriate precautions against being deceived or cheated.
Where does trust everybody, but cut the cards come from?: Reportedly coined by Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936) and expressed in dialect by his character "Mr. Dooley" in Mr. Dooley's Philosophy (1900), p. 260: "Thrust ivrybody—but cut th' ca-ards."

How to pronounce trust everybody, but cut the cards

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