show hand; have showdown; reveal position
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to lay one's cards on the table; to show one's hand (in card games)
Originally a term from card games.
Wán玩
pū扑
kè克
de的
shí时
hou候
，
lún轮
dào到
nǐ你
tān摊
pái牌
le了
。
When playing poker, it's your turn to show your hand.
Tā他
háo毫
bù不
yóu犹
yù豫
de地
tān摊
pái牌
，
yíng赢
dé得
le了
zhè这
yī一
jú局
。
He laid his cards on the table without hesitation and won this round.
verb
to have a showdown; to reveal one's position; to put all cards on the table
Figurative sense used in negotiations, conflicts, or final confrontations.
Jì既
rán然
tán谈
bù不
lǒng拢
，
wǒ我
men们
jiù就
zhí直
jiē接
tān摊
pái牌
ba吧
。
Since we can't reach an agreement, let's just have a showdown.
Shuāng双
fāng方
zhōng终
yú于
zài在
tán谈
pàn判
zhuō桌
shàng上
tān摊
pái牌
le了
。
Both sides finally laid all their cards on the table at the negotiating table.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Shì事
qing情
dào到
le了
zhè这
ge个
dì地
bù步
，
wǒ我
men们
zhǐ只
néng能
tān摊
pái牌
le了
。
Things have reached this point; we can only lay everything on the table.
Tā他
wēi威
xié胁
shuō说
，
rú如
guǒ果
bù不
dā答
yìng应
tiáo条
jiàn件
，
tā他
jiù就
tān摊
pái牌
。
He threatened that if the conditions weren't met, he would reveal his hand.