cold deck

noun

Cards Slang.

1. a pack with the cards in prearranged order, secretly exchanged for the one in use; stacked deck.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cold deck¹

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example Sentences

It’s less than awe-inspiring, for instance, that Guimarães has to tell us he has completed Kevin’s “cold deck” deception, a holy grail act of prestidigitation in which all 52 cards are secretly switched out for 52 others.

From New York Times

The odds are effectively stacked against "Cold Deck" from the get-go.

From Los Angeles Times

If we hadn't been a lot of hayseed amateurs, we might have found out long ago that some one was running in a cold deck on us.

From Project Gutenberg

You've been hackin' the keen edge of my finer feelin's; playin' it very low down on my moral and religious nature, generally ringin' in a cold deck on my spiritual condition for the last five years.

From Project Gutenberg

Wait for what turns up, an’ remember God ain’t dealing from a cold deck.”

From Project Gutenberg