To stack the deck
Example: They tried to stack the deck in their favor during the game.
Definition
"To stack the deck" means to arrange or manipulate conditions or circumstances unfairly to gain an advantage, often by ensuring the outcome favors one side. For example, "They tried to stack the deck in their favor during the game" implies deliberate bias in setup.
Etymology
The phrase "to stack the deck" originates from card games, where physically stacking the deck means arranging cards to ensure a desired outcome. Over time, it evolved into a metaphor for any unfair manipulation of conditions to guarantee success or advantage.
Learn to use this expression actively
"To stack the deck" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 106 commonly used expressions.
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