(colloquial) a variation of when the
chips are down, when a
situation has reached a
stage at which
action or a
decision of great
importance must be taken. The expression comes from betting games where a player puts
chips or
money on the table to show how much he is willing to
risk. When all the
chips are down, the players have placed their bets, but it is still unknown who will
win and who will
lose.
a coined variation of when the
chips are down, meaning when a
situation has reached the
stage at which an important
decision or
action must be taken. This
phrase derives from the
chips (small
flat disks) used as
tokens for
money in certain gambling games.
Chips are put down on the table to clearly show how much
money a player is wagering. When the
chips are down, the
final bets have been made, but it is still unknown who will
win or
lose.