cash in (one's) chips
1. To exchange one's chips (small discs used to represent money in some betting games, like poker) for money when one is done playing a game. I think I'm going to quit while I'm ahead and cash in my chips. You should cash in your chips now, before you start losing again. A: "I can't believe I lost so much money in just a few rounds of poker." B: "Dude, you've gotta learn when to cash in your chips."
2. By extension, to stop participating in any gathering or activity. Well, it's been fun, fellas, but it's time for me to cash in my chips. Ugh, that was my boss calling me in to work. Guess I'm cashing in my chips for now, boys. It's already 4:00? Yikes, I didn't realize we'd been playing for so long—I've gotta cash in my chips!
3. To leave a gathering or go to bed. I have to be up early tomorrow, so I'm going to cash in my chips. I hate to cash in my chips so abruptly, but I have to catch the next train back to the city. Dave went and cashed in his chips? Good, he looked exhausted.
4. To die. We were so lucky to avoid that massive accident—we could have cashed in our chips! A: "Yikes, why did I think Ed had already cashed 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 cash in her chips.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
cash in your chips
If you cash in your chips, you sell something, such as your investments, in order to raise money. Note: In the following expressions `chips' are the coloured tokens or counters which are used to represent money in casinos. Many investors picked up the phone yesterday, but most decided not to cash in their chips after all. Note: In a casino, if you cash in your chips, you exchange them for money at the end of a gambling session.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012