🗓️ Idiom: Play Your Cards Right (verb)
💬 Meaning
- To act wisely and make good choices in order to succeed.
- To use opportunities carefully to get the best result.
🧠 Example Sentences
- If you play your cards right, you could get a promotion from this project.
- The company played its cards right and secured the biggest deal of the year.
- She can win the client’s trust if she plays her cards right.
🏛️ Origin
This idiom comes from card games, where success often depends on how well you use the cards you are given. It has been used in English since the 19th century and soon became common to describe using one’s situation skilfully.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
He knew that if he __________ his cards right, he could close the deal.
Answer
played
2. Multiple choice:
What does “play your cards right” mean?
a) To act foolishly and take risks
b) To act wisely to succeed
c) To depend only on luck
Answer
b) To act wisely to succeed
3. Change the sentence using play your cards right:
She used her opportunities carefully and achieved success.
Answer
She played her cards right and achieved success.
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