Cards are stacked against one

Origin

The vivid imagery of 'stacked cards' traces its roots directly to the shady corners of card games, where cunning cheats sought to guarantee their victory. A dishonest gambler, often the dealer, would meticulously arrange or 'stack' the deck of cards in a specific, predetermined order before play began. This insidious preparation ensured that certain players would receive winning hands, while others—unknowingly—were dealt a predetermined sequence of losing cards. For those innocent players, success was an impossibility; the game was rigged before it even started, and the cards were literally stacked against them. This literal act of manipulation swiftly evolved into a powerful metaphor, describing any situation where circumstances, odds, or systems are unfairly biased, making a fair outcome or success incredibly difficult or impossible for an individual or group.