Put one's cards on the table
Meaning
To reveal one's true intentions, plans, or resources in an open and honest manner, often to facilitate discussion or resolution.
Origin
This phrase hails directly from the intense world of card games, particularly poker, where players fiercely guard their hands for strategic advantage. In such games, keeping one's cards hidden is crucial, but at a specific moment—perhaps to show a winning hand, or to agree on a stake—players must literally lay their cards face-up on the table for all to see. This act of full disclosure, ending all bluffing and revealing one's true holdings, seamlessly translated into a metaphor for being completely honest and transparent in any situation, signaling an end to pretense or hidden agendas.
Examples
- Before we can make any progress in these negotiations, both sides need to put their cards on the table.
- Feeling frustrated, Sarah decided it was time to put her cards on the table and tell her colleagues exactly what she thought of the project's direction.