The idiom "when the chips are down" originates from the world of gambling, where "chips" represent one's bets or stakes. In this context, it is used to refer to a situation in which one is  facing a challenging or difficult situation, often when one's circumstances are at their most critical.

What is the origin of the idiom "when the chips are down" and when to use it?

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when the chips [are] down

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“when the chips are down”的英语定义和含义

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