Vocabulary

Idioms

Unit 5 : Life is Gambling

Literal meanings

 Hand=the particular set of cards that have been given to you in game of cards
 To toss (up)=to throw a coin into the air and make a decision based on which side the coin falls
on
 To deal (out)=to give cards to the people playing a game of cards
 Stake=an amount of money that you risk losing when you try to guess the result of a race or
competition
 Bluff your way into/out of something=if you bluff your way into or out of a situation, you get
yourself into or out of it by deceiving people

A lousy hand

 I wouldn’t put money on it

 To deal a lousy hand
 When the chips are down=used for saying what happens when a situation becomes difficult or
reaches an important point
 To have got something up your sleeve=a secret or hidden advantage that you can use when you
need it

The luck of the draw

 The luck of the draw

 To show your hand
 At stake (the possibility to lose something)
 You win some, you lose some
 To take my chances (to use your abilities in the real world)
 Against all the odds
 To hit the jackpot
 On the cards (a problem)