On the cards

Meaning

The idiom "on the cards" means that something is very likely to happen or occur, or that it has a high probability of happening. It can also refer to events that are planned or scheduled to take place in the future. This expression can be used to express optimism or worry about an upcoming event.

Usage

• "We're going to start our project on Monday," said the team leader. "I'm really excited for what we have on the cards."
• "I heard that they're planning to lay off some employees soon," said John. "That's really unfortunate, but I guess it's on the cards."
• "We've been working on our new product for months now, and I think it's going to be a game-changer," said Sarah. "I can't wait to see what we have on the cards."
• "I'm really nervous about my upcoming exams," said Emily. "I hope I don't fail, but I guess it's all up to how well I prepare. It's on the cards, I guess."
• "I heard that there are some major changes coming to our company," said Mark. "Maybe they'll announce them at the next meeting. Who knows what we have on the cards?"

Roots and History

The idiom "on the cards" has been in use since at least the 16th century. It comes from the game of cards, where cards were dealt randomly to players. The phrase literally meant that a player's fate was determined by their luck of drawing cards. Over time, the expression evolved to mean that something is very likely to happen or occur, based on probability or chance.

Synonyms in English

• Likely
• Probable
• Foreseeable
• Predictable
• Plausible

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "Es probable" (likely)
• French: "Il est vraisemblable" (probable)
• German: "Es ist wahrscheinlich" (likely)
• Italian: "È verosimile" (plausible)
• Japanese: "可能性があります" (possible)

Similar Idioms

• know which side one’s bread is buttered

• in high dudgeon

• slam dunk