stacked

cards are stacked against (one)

[informal] luck is against one. I have the worst luck. The cards are stacked against me all the time. How can I accomplish anything when the cards are stacked against me?

See also: against, card

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

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: deck, stack

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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: deck, stack

the cards are stacked against somebody

if the cards are stacked against someone, they are not at all likely to succeed in a particular situation because they have a lot of problems He fought a brilliant campaign, but the cards were stacked against him from the start.

See play cards right

See also: against, card

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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: deck, stack