when the chips are down
(быть) в трудной ситуации (chips – жетоны в казино)
Sam is not a loser, and when the chips are down, he is always able to find a way out.
Другие идиомы:
- above board
- according to Hoyle
- ace in the hole
- ante up
- call a spade a spade
- call someone's bluff
- cash in one's chips
- come/turn up trumps
- deal someone in
- be dealt a bad hand/deal someone a bad hand
- follow suit
- force someone's hand
- have an ace up one's sleeve
- have a card up one's sleeve
- hold all the aces