Cards are on the table
Meaning
All information, intentions, or conditions are openly revealed and available for everyone to see and consider.
Origin
Imagine the tense silence around a poker table, players guarding their hands, their strategies hidden. Then, a dramatic declaration: 'My cards are on the table.' This phrase pulls directly from that moment in card games like poker, where the culmination of a round involves players laying their concealed hands face-up for all to see. It’s an act of finality, of total revelation, ending the secrecy and showing one's true strength or weakness. This vivid image of hidden truths being openly displayed leaped from the gaming hall into general use, becoming a potent metaphor for absolute transparency, signaling that all intentions, facts, or conditions are now openly disclosed and ready for consideration.
Examples
- Before we make any decisions about the merger, I want to ensure all our cards are on the table so we can evaluate every option clearly.
- The negotiation can finally begin now that both parties have put their cards on the table, revealing their true offers and demands.