几天前重温了经典港片《赌神2》，邱淑贞发牌的片段太惊艳也太经典了，C姐重复看了三遍。
看过电影，C姐对 playing poker 和 playing cards 两者之间的关系，算是彻底整明白了。首先声明，card 的含义有许多，今天只解释作“纸牌”用时的一些情况。
Normally when we say cards or play cards, we mean we will use a deck of cards to play a game, one of those games is poker.
通常当我们说 cards 或 play cards 时，我们的意思是我们用一副扑克牌来玩游戏，而其中一种游戏就是扑克。
Poker is a special card game, because it's a gambling game. And when people were playing poker, they normally would have chips. You can play cards without chips.
扑克是一种特殊的纸牌游戏，因为它是一种赌博游戏（拒绝赌博，从我做起）。当人们玩扑克的时候，他们通常会用筹码（=钱）。而打牌是不用筹码的。所以，你分清 play cards 和 play poker 的区别了么？
那今天，我们来看看 card 在英语中都有什么样的用法吧~
a wild card
1
在扑克等游戏中，a wild card 是指可以看作任何数值的牌，不过这不重要...我们还是学一下它的引申含义吧：
You describe someone or something as a wild card when they cause uncertainty because nobody knows how they will behave or what effects they will have.
当某人或某事充满了不确定性时，你可以形容他们为a wild card，因为没有人知道他们会怎么做或事情会产生什么影响。
🌰举个例子
He is too much of a wild card to be a successful candidate. Nobody wants to vote for someone wildly unpredictable.
他太不可靠了，不可能成为成功的候选人。没有人愿意投票给一个完全不可预测的人。
fold (one's) cards
2
：
fold (one's) cards 有两层意思：
1. To withdraw one's hand in defeat in a game of cards, as by laying one's cards face down.
在纸牌游戏中因失败而停手，将牌面朝下弃牌。
🌰举个例子
I tried to bluff my way with a pair of threes, but I eventually had to fold my cards.
我试图用一对三来虚张声势，但最终我不得不弃牌。
2. By extension: to discontinue one's pursuit, endeavor or effort; to give up.
引申为：停止某人的追求或努力，放弃。
🌰举个例子
After nearly 25 years in this industry, I think I'm ready to fold my cards. It's just gotten too hard to make a profit anymore.
在这个行业干了近25年，我想我已经准备好放弃了。要想盈利变得实在太难了。
keep cards close to chest
3
keep (one's) cards close to (one's) chest 指的是：
To keep one's plans, intentions, or tactics secret from everyone else.
对其他人保守计划、意图或策略秘密，表面意思指的是在纸牌游戏中把自己的牌放在胸前，不让其他玩家看到自己的牌。
🌰举个例子
We're all curious about what the boss has been discussing in those meetings with the lawyers, but she's keeping her cards close to her chest.
我们都很好奇老板在那些会议上和律师讨论了些什么，但她却守口如瓶。
a card up (one's) sleeve
4
a card up (one's) sleeve 指的是在纸牌游戏中把有利的牌藏在袖子里作弊，引申意指的是“在需要时可以利用的秘密计划、想法或优势”。
🌰举个例子
They think they have an airtight case against me, but I've got a card or two up my sleeve.
他们以为对我的指控是无懈可击的，但我却有个锦囊妙计。
showing a card trick to a dog
5
like showing a card trick to a dog 给修狗变戏法，修狗肯定不明白，其实这个短语指的是“向某人展示他们不可能理解或欣赏的东西”。
🌰举个例子
Good luck getting that doofus to understand the intricacies of the budget report. It's like showing a card trick to a dog.
想让那些笨蛋理解错综复杂的预算报告，就像让狗看懂纸牌戏法一样不可能。
one card short of a full deck
6
最后一个习惯用语终于与纸牌游戏无关了！
be one card short of a full deck 的意思竟然是“不聪明的或智力有问题的”！
🌰举个例子
He says he's going to start a business selling bees as pets —— I think he may be one card short of a full deck.
他说他要开始做卖蜜蜂当宠物的生意——我想他脑子里可能缺了根弦。
最后，让我们再复习一遍吧：
a wild card 不可预测因素
fold (one's) cards 放弃
keep (one's) cards close to (one's) chest 保守秘密
a card up (one's) sleeve 锦囊妙计
like showing a card trick to a dog 整不明白
be one card short of a full deck 智力有问题的
🙋精选干货
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