have the deck stacked against

have the deck stacked against (someone or something)

To have little chance of success due to some existing circumstances, conditions, or obstacles that are likely to present difficulties. Tiffany wants to pursue a career in modeling, but she's only five feet tall, so she really has the deck stacked against her. A lack of funding means that they really have the deck stacked against their campaign. We all have the deck stacked against us if the CEO's daughter is also a candidate for the job.

See also: deck, have, stacked

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

have the deck stacked against

one Go to have the cards stacked against one.

See also: deck, have, stacked

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.