when the chips are down

Idioms

When a situation is urgent or desperate, as in When the chips were down, all the children came home to help their mother. This expression comes from poker, where chips represent money being bet. When all the bets have been made, and the chips put down, the hand is over and the players turn up their cards to see who has won. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“We’ve seen that here. ... It’s just very hopeful that when the chips are down, people do step up.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

They may lie all the time, but when the chips are down, they gaslight.

From Salon • Nov. 9, 2024

He also has Galvin, who might be a better pick when the chips are down.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2024

“They want to see that when the chips are down, the United States will be there for our allies and partners.”

From New York Times • Feb. 6, 2024

I've got to have confidence each team member will be there when the chips are down.

From The Universe — or Nothing by Moldeven, Meyer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023