trump (redirected from trumps)

play one's trump card 

1. Lit. [in certain card games] to play a card that, according to the rules of the game, outranks certain other cards and is thus able to take any card of another suit. Bob played his trump card and ended the game as the winner.

2. Fig. to use a special trick; to use one's most powerful or effective strategy or device. I won't play my trump card until I have tried everything else. I thought that the whole situation was hopeless until Mary played her trump card and solved the whole problem.

See also: card, play

trump something up 

1. to promote or boost something. They think they have to trump something up to get people to see it. They trumped up the movie so much that many people were disappointed when it finally came out.

2. to think something up; to contrive something. Do you just sit around trumping charges up against innocent people? They trumped up the charges in an effort to disgrace me.

See also: up

trumped up 

1. heavily promoted; overly praised. (Hyphenated before nominal.) I don't care for trumped-up stuff like that movie. That movie was so trumped up. I expected to see something much better than it turned out to be.

2. made-up; contrived. They put Larry in the slammer on some trumped-up charge. It was a silly, trumped-up idea. Just forget it.

See also: up

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a trump card

an advantage that makes you more likely to succeed than other people, especially something that other people do not know about

Usage notes: In card games a trump card is one of a set of cards which have been chosen to have the highest value during the game.

The fact that I had an Italian parent turned out to be my trump card when I applied for the job. Anthea was about to play her trump card - none of the money could be released without her signature.

See also: card

come up/turn up trumps  (British & Australian)

to complete an activity successfully or to produce a good result, especially when you were not expected to

Usage notes: In card games, trumps are a set of cards which have been chosen to have the highest value during the game.

John's uncle came up trumps and found us a place to stay at the last minute.

See also: come, up