deck

clear the decks 

1. Lit. [for everyone] leave the deck of a ship and prepare for action. (A naval expression urging seaman to stow gear and prepare for battle or other action.) An attack is coming. Clear the decks.

2. Fig. get out of the way; get out of this area. Clear the decks! Here comes the teacher. Clear the decks and take your seats.

See also: clear

deck someone or something out (in something) and deck someone or something out (with something)

to decorate someone or something with something. Sally decked all her children out for the holiday party. She decked out her children in Halloween costumes. Tom decked the room out with garlands of flowers.

See also: out

few bricks short of a load and few cards shy of a full deck; few cards short of a deck; not playing with a full deck; two bricks shy of a load

Fig. lacking in intellectual ability. (Many other variants.) Tom: Joe thinks he can build a car out of old milk jugs. Mary: I think Joe's a few bricks short of a load. Ever since she fell and hit her head, Jane's been a few bricks short of a load, if you know what I'm saying. Bob's nice, but he's not playing with a full deck. You twit! You're two bricks shy of a load.

See also: brick, few, load, short

have the cards stacked against (one) and have the deck stacked against one

Fig. to have one's chance at future success limited by factors over which one has no control; to have luck against one. You can't get very far in life if you have the deck stacked against you. I can't seem to get ahead. I always have the cards stacked against me.

See also: against, card, have, stacked

hit the deck 

1. Fig. to fall down; to drop down to the floor or ground. Hit the deck. Don't let them see you. I hit the deck the minute I heard the shots.

2. Fig. to get out of bed. Come on, hit the deck! It's morning. Hit the deck! Time to rise and shine!

See also: hit

on deck 

1. Lit. on the deck of a boat or a ship. Everyone except the cook was on deck when the storm hit. Just pull up the anchor and leave it on deck.

2. Fig. ready (to do something); ready to be next (at something). Ann, get on deck. You're next. Who's on deck now?

play with a full deck 

1. Lit. to play cards with a complete deck, containing all the cards. Are we playing with a full deck or did some card drop on the floor? I haven't seen the three of hearts all evening!

2. Fig. to operate as if one were mentally sound. (Usually in the negative. One cannot play cards properly with a partial deck.) That guy's not playing with a full deck. Look sharp, you dummies! Pretend you are playing with a full deck.

See also: full, play

stack the deck (against someone or something) and stack the cards (against someone or something)

to arrange things against someone or something. (Originally from card playing; stacking the deck is to cheat by arranging the cards to be dealt out to one's advantage.) I can't get ahead at my office. Someone has stacked the cards against me. Do you really think that someone has stacked the deck? Isn't it just fate?

See also: stack

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all hands on deck  also all hands to the pumps

something that you say when everyone's help is needed, especially to do a lot of work in a short amount of time We've got to get all this cleared up before they arrive so it's all hands on deck.

See also: hand

be one card/several cards short of a full deck  (humorous)

if someone is one card short of a full deck, they are stupid or crazy Do you think your cousin might be one card short of a full deck?

See also: card, full, one, short

clear the decks  (informal)

to finish dealing with what you are doing so that you can start to do something more important

Usage notes: If navy officers clear the decks they prepare a ship for war.

His company is clearing the decks for major new investment in the Far East.

See out of the blue, steer clear of, be as clear as day

See also: clear

hit the deck/dirt  (American & Australian informal)

to fall to the ground, or to quickly lie on the ground, especially to avoid danger The shooting started, and I heard someone shout 'Hit the deck!'

See also: hit

on deck 

1. (American & Australian) if someone is on deck, they are present and ready to do something Bill's batting next - tell him to get on deck. Ann, if you can be on deck at 9.00 I'll give you a lift to the meeting.

2. (Australian informal) alive Don't tell me old Bill's still on deck. I thought he died years ago.

See stack the deck, hit the deck

stack the deck  (mainly American)

to arrange something in a way that is not fair in order to achieve what you want

Usage notes: This phrase comes from the idea of arranging a set of cards in a card game so that you will win.

The manager stacked the deck in Joe's favor so he got the promotion.

See blow stack

See also: stack

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clear the decks

to finish what you are doing in order to do something more important His company is clearing the decks to begin work on a major new product.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of clear the decks (prepare a ship to fight by putting away everything that is not necessary)

See also: clear

deck out somebody/something also deck somebody/something out

to decorate someone or something in something special The stewards were decked out in beautiful new uniforms. Some salesman had decked the car out, giving it racing wheels and stripes on the sides.

See also: out

hit the deck

to fall to the ground suddenly to avoid danger hit the dirt At the sound of gunfire, we all hit the deck.

See also: hit

on deck

ready or available The TV audience expects something good on deck after the news.

Etymology: based on the idea of being on the deck (flat surface) of a ship, ready for whatever must be done

stack the deck also the deck is stacked against you

to arrange something so that it is unfair to someone We wanted to make sure no one was stacking the deck in their favor. The deck truly is stacked against the poor.

Etymology: based on a way of cheating in a card game by secretly arranging the cards so that you will win

See also: stack