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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

play all one's cards en · VERB

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To use all one's resources.
    • I've played all my cards And that's what you've done too Nothing more to say No more ace to play 1980, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, “The Winner Takes It All”, in Super Trouper, performed by ABBA:
    • We composed a calm email stating our 'interest in football in the region' and desire to 'find out more', deciding not to play all our cards at this stage. 2012, Paul Watson, Up Pohnpei:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
plays all one's cards Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
playing all one's cards Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
played all one's cards Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
played all one's cards Tense=Past lexicographic

Synonyms

play all one's cards at once