Stack the deck against someone
Meaning
To unfairly manipulate circumstances or conditions, making it highly probable that someone will fail or be disadvantaged.
Origin
In the murky world of 19th-century card games, a cunning card sharp's most potent weapon wasn't luck, but skill in deception. Before a game even began, such a cheat would meticulously 'stack the deck,' arranging cards in a predetermined order to guarantee a win for themselves or a loss for their unwitting opponent. With sleight of hand, they'd ensure aces fell into their own hand, or that a rival consistently drew losing combinations. This secret, deliberate manipulation of chance—making a game appear fair while its outcome was fixed—gave birth to the vivid phrase, now used to describe any situation where circumstances are unfairly arranged to ensure someone's failure.
Examples
- From the outset of the negotiation, it seemed clear that the larger corporation intended to stack the deck against the small startup.
- Despite the critics arguing that the new regulations would stack the deck against local businesses, the city council passed them anyway.