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Glite Dictionary
to play the hand one is dealt

to play the hand one is dealt

1 6.7
To accept what you cannot change and make the best of it
  • idiom
translation icon : jugar con lo que se tiene
  • When faced with unexpected challenges, it's important to play the hand one is dealt rather than giving up.
  • just play the hand you're dealt

Examples

  • Even though his company downsized, he resolved to play the hand one is dealt and look for new opportunities.

  • She had always admired her father's ability to play the hand one is dealt without complaints.

  • You must play the hand you are dealt!

  • Why not play the hand you are dealt and make the best of it?

  • In life, sometimes you just have to play the hand one is dealt and make the best of difficult situations.

  • No matter how challenging things get, we must play the hand we are dealt with determination.

  • When faced with unexpected challenges, it's important to play the hand one is dealt and find solutions.

Synonyms

to play it by ear
vsto play the hand one is dealt
11 6.2

Decide what to do as things happen rather than plan ahead

focuses on accepting circumstances and improving them rather than spontaneous choice
to make lemonade out of lemons
vsto play the hand one is dealt
  • Informal
1 5.0

Turn a bad situation into something good

focuses more generally on coping and making the best of circumstances
to deal a good hand
vsto play the hand one is dealt
  • Informal
5.0

To handle a situation well by using what you have

is about accepting circumstances and making the best of them
to ride with the punches
vsto play the hand one is dealt
  • Informal
7.2

To accept and adapt to difficult times without giving up

emphasizes acceptance plus active improvement rather than only flexibility
to take each challenge as they come
vsto play the hand one is dealt
  • Informal
5.2

Deal with problems one at a time as they happen

focuses on overall acceptance and making best use of limits instead
to navigate through life's challenges
vsto play the hand one is dealt
5.5

To deal with problems and hard times in life

is about immediate acceptance and making the best of present limits

Antonyms

to complain
∞ 1.0

To say you are unhappy about something and want it changed

How Resourceful

to thrive
241 3.2
to play the hand one is dealt
1 6.7
to make do
49 3.7
to get by
121 3.1
struggle
466 3.2
to give up
∞ 1.2

Surface Forms

play the hand one is dealt infinitive

Morphology

play + the + hand + one + be + deal

The phrase uses literal card-game vocabulary ('play', 'hand', 'deal') so a learner familiar with those words can access the basic scenario of playing the cards one has. However, the shift from the concrete card situation to the abstract meaning of coping with life's circumstances is metaphorical and requires a mapping that is not fully predictable without prior exposure, making it only partially transparent.

Etymology

The idiom play the hand one is dealt comes from card games. When a player is given a hand of cards and is dealt whatever cards they have, they must use them and make smart moves, so the phrase means 'make the best of the situation'.