when the chips are down
3
7.4
- idiom
- Informal
:
cuando las cosas se ponen difíciles
- When the chips are down, just remember who to count on.
But when when the chips are down and when things are tough, they start reassessing everything.
- But when when the chips are down and when things are tough, they start reassessing everything.
- The strength of a relationship is how do two people operate when the chips are down, when things are bad.
- Because, you know, let's face it, we all settle back to the level of our training when the chips are down and the pressure's on.
- Special skills His special skills Be in your pal when the chips are down.
- I think to be fair, I would like to see him go against some what's it called when things go against you when the chips are down.
Examples
-
She proved her loyalty when the chips are down and stood by my side.
-
We win when the chips are down.
-
Did you ever see the Greatest Generation give up when the chips were down?
Blog text (7) -
But when the chips are down, I can always count on you.
Fiction book (1993) -
You don't know who your friends are when the chips are down...
Fiction book (1991) -
We might not always be right about things, but there is a reason why the US and the UK hang together when the chips are down.
Blog text (21) -
They are more interested in how you respond when the chips are down and how quickly you took control of your situation.
Blog text (7) -
You can always rely on your true friends when the chips are down.
-
When the chips are down, that's when you find out who really cares about you.
Synonyms
15
7.7
Very close to failure or defeat with little chance to recover
3
7.2
A situation that becomes serious and needs you to act
1
7.8
A situation that could easily end well or badly
How Critical
37
3.9
- Informal
3
7.4
∞
3.1
∞
1.0
148
3.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense 'a critical or difficult moment' is not directly derivable from the literal meanings of 'chip(s)' (a small token or piece) and 'down' (low or reduced), so an average B1 learner who knows the words would not predict this idiomatic reading. The phrase is historically metaphorical (likely gambling-related) and functions as a fixed idiom whose meaning must be learned, making it unpredictable from its parts.
Etymology
When the chips are down may come from gambling: imagine the betting chips put down on the table so everyone must show their cards and the game becomes serious. That's why it means 'when a situation is critical'.