when the chips are down

Idioms  

1. When a situation is urgent or desperate, as in When the chips were down, all the children came home to help their mother. This expression comes from poker, where chips represent money being bet. When all the bets have been made, and the chips put down, the hand is over and the players turn up their cards to see who has won. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

“That raises the question, ‘What do you stand for when the chips are down?’ ” he said.

From Washington Post

"When the chips are down and things are really bad, that’s when you really show your true colors," Schmeichel said.

From Fox News

“When the chips are down and things are really bad, that’s when you really show your true colors,” Schmeichel said.

From Seattle Times

“We can compete every weekend. When the chips are down and we’re P6, we’ve still got a shot to win.’

From Seattle Times

He still can rise to the occasion when the chips are down.

From Seattle Times