Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer from English with Jennifer. You may know that I've played
a lot of card games in my life. I grew up playing popular games like Blackjack, Slapjack, Go Fish,
and some less common games like Steal the Pile and 500. I hope that card games don't die out because
of video games and entertainment apps. There are a lot of idioms related to playing cards,
and they sure make a lot more sense if you've actually played these games.
In this lesson, I'll share four expressions.
"To play your cards right" means to do things in the best way possible in order to be successful
and get what you want or get something of value. We often use this in an IF-clause.
If you play your cards right, you might get a promotion in one or two years.
He's a good athlete, and he could get a scholarship if he plays his cards right.
If you're good at keeping your face expressionless, then you know how to
have a poker face. You can have, keep, or wear a poker face. It's like keeping a straight face.
Sometimes you want to hide what you're thinking or feeling.
This is important in card games because you don't want to reveal
if you have good or bad cards. That would be giving too much information to your opponents.
So, imagine a business setting. During negotiations, Dave always has a poker
face. Until the deal is final, you don't know whether he's happy or not with the terms.
Sometimes winning in cards depends on skill. Other times, you either have good luck or bad luck. When
you draw a card from the deck, it may be a good card or a bad card. That's the luck of the draw.
This expression refers to chance. You have no control over the outcome.
I bought an economy seat on the plane, and I had no choice about seating.
I ended up in a row with extra leg room and empty seats beside me. It was just the luck of the draw.
You know, one card game I never had any interest in learning
is bridge. I understand though that the four suits are ranked: clubs, diamonds, hearts,
spades. I believe spades have the highest value in poker, too, so if
you have something...anything in spades, that's a good thing. It means you have a lot of it.
Liliana has intelligence and wit in spades. Sergei is very hard-working. He has ambition in spades.
Okay. Quick review. If you do things in the best way possible in order to be successful, you...
play your cards right.
If you don't change your expression in order to hide your thoughts and feelings, you...
keep a poker face.
When things depend on chance, that's just...
the luck of the draw.
If someone is very generous, we could say they have generosity...
in spades.
For practice, finish my sentences with your own ideas.
That's all for now. Please like the video if you found it useful and interesting.
As always, thanks for watching and happy studies!
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