play one's cards right

English

Alternative forms

• play one's cards well
• play one's hand right

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

play one's cards right (third-person singular simple present plays one's cards right, present participle playing one's cards right, simple past and past participle played one's cards right)

1. To act correctly; to make the right moves.

   If you play your cards right, you'll get the promotion you've been waiting for.

   • 2024 May 30, Renato Mariotti, “How Trump’s Team Blew It”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     If Mr. Trump’s lawyers had played their cards right, they most likely would have ended up with a hung jury or a misdemeanor conviction.

Translations

Translations

• Finnish: pelata korttinsa oikein

See also

• play the hand one is dealt
• overplay one's hand