in the cards

Idioms and Phrases

Likely or certain to happen, as in I don't think Jim will win—it's just not in the cards . This term, originally put as on the cards , alludes to the cards used in fortune-telling. [Early 1800s]

Example Sentences

“I suspect that’s in the cards now.”

From Los Angeles Times

“What is clear is that both Israel and Iran are in reactive mode and the terms and conditions of their long adversarial relationship have been redefined,” Vakil said on the social media platform X. “Without guardrails, red lines or a strategy to de-escalate, further conflict remains in the cards.”

From Los Angeles Times

“If that was in the cards, I’d definitely sign up for that.”

From Los Angeles Times

The reason Foster talks so much about him — about how happy their family makes her — is that she wasn’t always sure this was in the cards for her.

From Los Angeles Times

But the California amphibians are once again in the line of fire and another rescue mission could be in the cards.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anticipate
• augur
• calculate
• conclude
• determine
• estimate
• foresee
• foretell
• gauge
• portend