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Definition

Bring about a situation which necessitates an agent to act, often causing a plan to be executed prematurely.

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Origins

A metaphorical reference to card games.

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See Also

  • preclude
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Related Idioms

b

bring to heel

To compel someone to obey; to force someone into a submissive conditio…

 d

do the math

To determine the explanation for or precise nature of a situation, suc…

 l

live rent-free in someone's head

To be the perpetual focus of someone's thoughts, with that person havi…

 w

wait on someone hand and foot

To attend to (someone's) every need, to the point of excess.

 e

eat out of someone's hand

To behave in a docile, submissive way towards someone.

 h

hand someone their cards

To dismiss someone from employment; to fire or make redundant.
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