showdown
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a final fight or meeting that ends a long argument or competition and decides who wins.
a final, decisive confrontation or contest between two opponents to resolve a dispute or determine a winner.
Simple“The two political leaders are preparing for a final showdown on television tonight.”
In context“After months of public disagreements, the board of directors and the CEO are heading for a dramatic showdown at the annual general meeting.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the end of a card game where players show their cards to see who has the best hand.
the final phase of a poker hand where remaining players reveal their cards to determine the winner of the pot.
Simple“He had been bluffing the whole time, so he was nervous when the game reached the showdown.”
In context“Only two players remained for the showdown, at which point the challenger revealed a full house to take the entire pot.”
Synonyms
“But the real showdown is between Wizz Air and Ryanair, experts say.”
From show + down.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.