Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

put one's cards on the table

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.16 in modern English

Syllables: put one's -card-s on the table
IPA

32

Scrabble Score

22

Letters

3

Syllables

14

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To reveal one's true intentions, beliefs, feelings, or other previously concealed facts about one's situation; to speak frankly.

Example Sentences

""We needn't either of us," she continued, "be concerned for the other's reasons, though I'm perfectly ready, I assure you, to put my cards on the table.""
"I thought the time had come for me to put my cards on the table. I saw by this man's eye that he was the kind you can trust."
""Let's put our cards on the table. We think you're the man the police are looking for—the one described in the papers.""
"Although Sharon has never put all his cards on the table, he's given plenty of indicators that in his vision, a Palestinian state comprises the 40-50 percent of the West Bank currently under PA jurisdiction."

Etymology

An allusion to playing a card game where keeping one's cards hidden is advantageous.

Inflected Forms

puts one's cards on the table (present, singular) putting one's cards on the table (participle, present) lay one's cards on the table (alternative) place one's cards on the table (alternative) put it all on the table (alternative) put it on the table (alternative)

Synonyms

show one's cards show one's hand

Questions

What does put one's cards on the table mean?: To reveal one's true intentions, beliefs, feelings, or other previously concealed facts about one's situation; to speak frankly.
Where does put one's cards on the table come from?: An allusion to playing a card game where keeping one's cards hidden is advantageous.

How to pronounce put one's cards on the table

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