WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN


Meaning of WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN in English

{adv. cl.}, {informal} When the winner and loser of a bet or a game are decided; at the most important or dangerous time. * /Tom hit a home run in the last inning of the game when the chips were down./ * /When the chips were down, the two countries decided not to have war./ (From the fact that in gambling games, a person puts chips or money down in front of him to show that he is willing to risk an amount in a bet.)

Dictionary of English idioms .      Словарь английских идиом.