Dictionary

let the chips fall where they may en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Originally a woodcutting metaphor (in full, “hew to the line and let the chips fall where they may”), but now often associated with poker chips.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To allow events to unfold naturally; to accept what occurs without prejudice, worry, or regret.
   • "My agenda is to let the Council members come into their own, to be freethinkers and push what they think is right, and let the chips fall where they may," Mr. Vallone said. 1988 January 29, Alan Finder, “City Council Wakes Up but Still Lags”, in New York Times, retrieved 10 Oct 2011:
   • "We acted very directly, very swiftly, we told the truth and we'll let the investigation play out and let the chips fall where they may." 2008 May 14, Sean Scully, “Philly's Cop Beating: No Rodney King”, in Time:
   • [H]e said tinny things to me, thinks like . . . "I want to talk cold turkey to you, man to man!" And he took me down to what he called his "den" in order that we might ". . . call a spade a spade, and let the chips fall where they may." 1963, Kurt Vonnegut, chapter 87, in Cat's Cradle, Random House Digital, →ISBN:

Forms

Relateds

take things as they come

Synonyms

let the dice fall where they may