# when the chips are down

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/when-the-chips-are-down
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

When the pressure is on; when the situation is urgent or critical.

## Examples

- You learn who your real friends are when the chips are down.
- He always stays positive when the chips are down.
- I need your help when the chips are down.
- She remained calm and focused when the chips were down, helping her team finish the project before the deadline.
- The manager always stays late to support the staff when the chips are down and the restaurant is overcrowded.
- You can rely on this old car to start even when the chips are down and the weather is freezing.
- The small business owner had to decide whether to take out a loan or close the shop when the chips were down during the economic crisis.
- True character is revealed not in moments of comfort, but when the chips are down and the path forward remains uncertain.

## Origin

The phrase originates in the game of poker, where the chips laid down on the table represent the finality of a player's stake. Once the betting concludes and the cards are to be shown, the chips remain down; the commitment is absolute and the outcome is no longer subject to further negotiation.

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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.