when the chips are down
when you are in a very difficult or dangerous situation, especially one that
makes you understand the true value of people or things
当你处于非常困难或危险的境地时，尤其是使你明白人或物的真正价值的时候
The phrase comes from poker: when all the bets have been made, and all the
cards dealt, it s the critical, final moment when the cards are turned over and
the winner revealed. Before you do this, anything you say or do is just bluff or
empty words. Your action of throwing down your chips commits you to an actual
position. Thus the action of throwing your chips down is the moment when you get
serious.
这个短语来自扑克:当所有的赌注都已下完，所有的牌都已发完，就是关键的，最后的揭晓牌面和赢家的时刻。在你下赌注之前，你说的或做的任何事都只是虚张声势或空话。你把筹码扔下去的行为才是你真正的状态。因此，把筹码扔下去的动作就代表着你认真对待的时刻。
One day when the chips are down, you will know who your true friends are.
总有一天，当情况危急的时候，你会知道谁是你真正的朋友。
往期精选
4 April 2023
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