Similes, idioms, expressions and cliché’s persist because they’re true and applicable. I’ve always been a fan of linguistics – and this week, I figured it was time to take a look at some popular idioms and how they could be applied to bridge. 

As Cocky as the King of Spades

Alluding to the King of Spades as one of the top-ranking cards in the card deck, saying that someone is as cocky as the King of Spades is the same as saying that they imagine themselves to be the cat’s whiskers. Whether or not cockiness helps or hinders your bridge game is still up to interpretation… 

Alternatively, it can also be said that someone is “in spades”, or doing well at something. 

Playing Your Cards Right

If it’s said that you play your cards right, it means that you’re in the winning position. If you play your cards wrong, you get a divorce. (Kidding, of course…) 

[They Are] a One Trick Pony

A one trick pony is a lot like a one hit wonder. It means burning brightly but briefly, and it’s the opposite of saying someone is a Jack (or Jill) of all trades. It means you have one trick, and that’s it. When this expression gets applied to bridge, it would mean much of the same. 

[They Have] a Trick Up Their Sleeve

Having a trick up your sleeve means that you either know or do something that trumps everyone else. When applied to bridge, you can keep your tricks anywhere you like, but up your sleeve would be a cheating ban from the table…

Chancing Your Arm

Chancing your arm means taking a particularly risky chance or wager. When you do this during a bridge game, perhaps it’s more appropriate to say that you’re chancing your hand instead. 

Playing Open Cards

Outside of the game, playing open cards means that you’re being honest. But within bridge, would playing open cards mean you’re the dummy at the table? 

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

Depending on who you ask, the expression is either that you can or can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Not recommended: The dogs who can’t play cards might just chew on the deck for a while.

A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush

While applied to bridge the expression might change to cards instead of birds, this doesn’t make it any less appropriate. Sometimes a card is worth more in your hand than in play – other times, the opposite is true. 

What other expressions would you say can be applied to bridge?