cards are stacked against

Idioms  

1. Many difficulties face someone or something, as in The cards are stacked against the new highway project. This term originated in gambling, wheremeans to arrange cards secretly and dishonestly in one's own favor or against one's opponent. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

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cards are stacked against

The Adran Premier club said in a statement it has "become clear that it is an impossible task to continue...the cards are stacked against us".

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2023

"The cards are stacked against you. You will likely lose your case with the prelitigation panel. That doesn't mean we don't believe in your case."

From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2023

We’ve talked about it, and while we both have strong feelings for each other, it just seems like the cards are stacked against us.

From Slate ● Dec. 10, 2018

Signe-Mary McKernan, co-director of the Opportunity and Ownership initiative at the Urban Institute, a think tank: The cards are stacked against low- and middle-income families, because federal wealth building subsidies leave them out.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 6, 2018

To know that the cards are stacked against the other player takes all the fun out of the deck for me.

From Money Magic A Novel by Hamlin Garland