# card of ten

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/card-of-ten
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A bold front, an instance of standing one's ground.

## Examples

- He stood his ground and held his card of ten.
- Despite the intense pressure from the board, the manager played his card of ten to protect his team.
- Facing the hostile committee, she maintained her composure and played her card of ten, refusing to concede a single point of her proposal.

## Origin

Apparently from the use of cards with a rank of 10 in early card games. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.