Idioms From the Card Table
1 / 15When someone has a secret advantage they are saving for the right moment, we say they have "an ace up their _____."
About Idioms From the Card Table
Idioms From the Card Table is a free word games quiz with 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 8 easy, 6 medium, 1 hard questions. Play your hand at phrases dealt from card games, such as "an ace up your sleeve," "the cards are stacked," and "follow suit." A typical run takes about 7 minutes, hints are always one tap away, and your streak ticks up the first time you finish a game on a given day.
A few sample questions
1. When someone has a secret advantage they are saving for the right moment, we say they have "an ace up their _____."
Answer: sleeve
Cheaters in old card games would sometimes hide an ace up their sleeve to play at a critical moment. Today the phrase means any hidden advantage kept in reserve.
2. If you "follow suit," what are you doing?
Answer: Doing the same thing as someone else
In card games, following suit means playing a card of the same suit that was led. In everyday life, the phrase means to copy or do the same thing as the person before you.
3. When the odds are unfairly against you from the start, people say "the cards are stacked _____ you."
Answer: against
A card cheat might secretly stack, or arrange, a deck so that certain players received bad hands. Today the phrase describes any situation where circumstances are unfairly set against someone.
4. To "show your hand" means to reveal what?
Answer: Your true plans or intentions
In poker, showing your hand at the end means revealing your cards to the table. In everyday speech, showing your hand means letting others know your true strategy or intentions before you are ready.
5. "Playing your cards right" means making the most of your opportunities through what?
Answer: Clever decisions and good judgment
Just as a skilled card player can win even with a mediocre hand by making smart moves, playing your cards right in life means using whatever you have wisely to reach a good outcome.
Things you'll learn along the way
- In certain card games, a wild card can stand in for any card and its value is unknown until played. In everyday language, a wild card is someone or something unpredictable that could change a situation in any direction.
- Laying cards face-up on the table leaves nothing hidden from other players. The idiom means to be fully transparent, sharing all relevant facts without holding anything back.
- In trick-taking card games, a trump card belongs to a suit that automatically beats cards of all other suits. To trump someone's idea or argument means to override it with a stronger point.
Frequently asked questions
What's a good follow-up after Idioms From the Card Table?
If you enjoyed this word games quiz, try the Daily Challenge — five rotating questions, refreshed every 24 hours, that count toward your streak. You can also use the Surprise Me button on the homepage to land on a different game type for variety.
Can I print Idioms From the Card Table?
Yes — use the Print button at the top of the page for a clean question sheet, or "Print with Answers" to make an answer key. Printed sheets work well for group play at home, in a classroom, or at a senior center.
Will I lose my progress if I close the page?
Your overall progress — XP, streaks, and badges — is saved in your browser automatically. A quiz that's underway restarts if you leave mid-game, but at about 7 minutes, Idioms From the Card Table fits comfortably in one sitting.
How many questions are in Idioms From the Card Table?
Idioms From the Card Table has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
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