to reveal one's intentions to someone. (From card games.) • I don’t know whether Jim is intending to marry Jane or not. He's not one to show his hand. • If you want to get a raise, don’t show the boss your hand too soon.
show one's hand|hand|show
v. phr. To reveal or exhibit one's true and hitherto hidden purpose. Only after becoming Chancellor of Germany did Adolf Hitler really show his hand and reveal that he intended to take over other countries.
show (one's) hand
To accomplish one's plans, intentions, ideas, or assets accepted to others, abnormally those that were ahead hidden or kept secret. (Also bidding as "show (one's) cards"; both phrases accredit to announcement one's cards ("hand") during a agenda game.) In business negotiations, it's important that you don't appearance your duke appropriate away, or you ability accident accident out on the best accord possible.Pressure from the government is banishment the awfully backstairs CEO to appearance his duke apropos his company's tax contour and adopted accounts.Learn more: hand, show
show one's hand
Reveal one's plans, intentions, or resources, abnormally back they were ahead hidden. For example, We accept to be accurate not to appearance our duke to our competitors. The hand actuality refers to a duke of cards, and assuming them agency axis them face up. [Late 1800s] Learn more: hand, show
show one's hand, to
To acknowledge one’s accurate motives or intentions. This term, like laying one’s cards on the table, comes from card-playing. Edmund Campion acclimated a adaptation of it in 1581: “I would I ability be suffered to shewe my cardes” (Conferences Held in the Tower of London with Ed. Campion, Jesuit, cited by OED). A alternative is to tip one’s hand, of the aforementioned provenance. The Economist used it on November 17, 1979: “Mr Hunt will not tip his duke on the amount at which he will buy added bullion.”Learn more: showLearn more:
An show one's hand idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with show one's hand, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
Dictionnaire de mots similaires, Différentes expressions, Synonymes, Idiomes pour Idiome show one's hand