- To be completely open, honest, and transparent about your intentions, situation, or feelings.
Explanation
Origin
- Comes from card games like poker.
- At certain points in the game (like the showdown), players must reveal their hidden cards by laying them face-up on the table for everyone to see.
- This act reveals their true hand and determines the winner.
- Metaphorically, it means revealing your true position, intentions, or information, holding nothing back.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Keep it real / Keep it 100
- Spill the beans (Reveal secret information)
- Cut the crap / Cut the bullshit (Demand honesty)
- Real talk...
Vulgar/Emphatic: (Usually demanding honesty)
- Stop fucking around and tell me the truth.
Milder/Formal:
- Be candid
- Disclose your position fully
- Provide full transparency
- State your intentions clearly
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to formal.
- Very common in negotiations, conflict resolution, business discussions, and serious personal conversations where honesty is required.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Entirely figurative. Learners should understand it means revealing information or intentions, not literally placing playing cards on a surface.
Examples
- Okay, let's stop hinting. It's time to lay our cards on the table about what we both want from this partnership.
- I decided to lay my cards on the table and tell my boss I was looking for other jobs.
- If you want to negotiate seriously, you need to lay your cards on the table regarding your budget.
Dialogue
Negotiator A: We've been going back and forth for weeks. I think it's time we both laid our cards on the table.
Negotiator B: Agreed. What's your absolute minimum price?
Negotiator A: Okay. We cannot go below $50,000. That's our final offer. Now, what's the maximum you're authorized to pay?
Negotiator B: Alright. My maximum is $55,000, but I need concessions on the delivery timeline.
Social Media Examples
- Blog Post Title: Time to Lay My Cards on the Table About My Struggle with Burnout
- Tweet: In salary negotiations, sometimes you just have to lay your cards on the table about your expectations. #CareerAdvice #Salary
- Forum Post (Relationship Advice): Maybe you should just lay your cards on the table and tell him how you really feel. #relationships #honesty
Response Patterns
If asked to lay your cards on the table:
- Compliance: Okay, here's the situation..., Alright, honestly... followed by revealing information.
- Hesitation/Reluctance: I'm not sure I can do that yet., What do you want to know specifically?
After someone lays their cards on the table:
- Reciprocation: Okay, thanks for being honest. Here's my position...
- Acknowledgement: I appreciate your transparency.
- Reaction to the revealed information (surprise, agreement, negotiation, etc.).
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After suggesting Let's lay our cards on the table:
- One party typically starts revealing their position or information.
- Expecting the other party to reciprocate with similar honesty.
After someone has laid their cards on the table:
- Asking clarifying questions about the revealed information.
- Negotiating or discussing based on the newly revealed facts/intentions.
- Making a decision based on the open information.
Conversation Starter
- No. Usually proposed during a conversation, especially a negotiation or a situation requiring clarity and honesty.
Intonation
- Often said with a serious, direct tone, implying a need for honesty. Stress usually on LAY your CARDS on the TABLE.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across generations.
Regional Variations
- Common in all major English-speaking regions.