call in (one's) chips

1. To die. "Chips" are small discs used to represent money in some betting games, like poker. We were so lucky to avoid that massive accident—we could have called in our chips! A: "Yikes, why did I think Ed had already called in his chips?" B: "Probably because he's about 100 years old?" My mom is terrified of flying because she's convinced that's how she'll call in her chips.

2. To sell one's belongings or financial assets in order to make money quickly. Yeah, I sold that vintage guitar last month—I had to call in my chips to pay rent. He found himself in such dire financial straits that he had to call in his chips and sell his beloved pocket watch. After we learned how much our daughter's medical treatment would cost, I took my engagement ring to the pawn shop and called in my chips.

call in your chips

mainly BRITISH

If you call in your chips, you decide to use your influence or social connections in order to gain an advantage over other people. Note: In the following expressions `chips' are the coloured tokens or counters which are used to represent money in casinos. The President's friends in the steel and textile industries may try to call in their chips. Note: In gambling, if you call in your chips, you ask people to pay you all the money that they owe you.