cards
B1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A set of small, rectangular pieces of stiff paper or thin plastic, typically with numbers, symbols, or pictures on one side, used for playing games, telling fortunes, or sending messages.
The term can refer broadly to the concept of playing cards, but also extends metaphorically to represent one's resources, advantages, or hidden information in various contexts (e.g., 'hold all the cards'). It can also refer to systems of identification, greeting, or business (e.g., business cards, credit cards).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a plural noun, but can be used as a singular mass noun when referring to the activity or concept of card games ('He is good at cards'). The singular 'card' has many distinct meanings (e.g., a single playing card, a greeting card, an ID card), while 'cards' typically refers to the collective set or the activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The word itself is identical. Some specific card game terminology may differ (e.g., 'Patience' in UK vs. 'Solitaire' in US for the single-player game). The phrase 'on the cards' (meaning likely to happen) is slightly more common in UK English.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. In both varieties, 'cards' can imply chance, strategy, social activity, or formality depending on context.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
play + cardsshuffle + cardsdeal + cards + to + someoneput + your + cards + on + the + tablehold + all + the + cardsVocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hold all the cards”
- “play your cards right”
- “lay/put your cards on the table”
- “a house of cards”
- “close to your chest”
- “in the cards”
- “stack the deck/cards against someone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to business cards, credit cards, or loyalty cards. Metaphorically used in strategy ('We need to play our cards right in the negotiation').
Academic
Used in probability and statistics (e.g., 'drawing cards from a deck'), or for study aids like flash cards.
Everyday
Most common context: playing games, sending greetings, or using credit/debit cards for payment.
Technical
In computing, can refer to hardware components (graphics cards, sound cards) or data cards (SIM cards).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was carded for suspicious activity at the casino.
- The goalkeeper was carded for a dangerous tackle.
American English
- The bouncer carded everyone who looked under 30.
- The referee carded the player for dissent.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We play cards every Friday night.
- She sent me birthday cards.
- I have two credit cards.
- He shuffled the cards expertly before dealing.
- Please bring your identity cards to the meeting.
- The magician fanned the cards out on the table.
- The future of the project is in the cards, given the current budget.
- He's holding his cards close to his chest and won't reveal his strategy.
- The report cards will be issued to parents next week.
- The prosecution holds all the cards in this case, with overwhelming evidence.
- Their business plan was a house of cards, collapsing at the first sign of trouble.
- She played her cards right during the interview and secured the job.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CARDboard box filled with playing CARDS. The 'D' in 'cards' is like the corner of a card.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A CARD GAME (e.g., 'He was dealt a bad hand', 'She played her cards well'). INFORMATION IS A HAND OF CARDS (e.g., 'He kept his cards close to his chest').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'credit card' as 'кредитная карточка' in overly formal contexts; 'кредитка' is common colloquially.
- The Russian 'карты' for maps is a false friend; English 'cards' are not geographical maps.
- The idiom 'в карты' translates to 'at cards' or 'playing cards', not '*in cards'.
Common Mistakes
- Using a singular verb with plural 'cards' (e.g., 'Cards is fun' -> 'Cards are fun' / 'Playing cards is fun').
- Confusing 'card' (singular) with 'cards' (plural/activity) (e.g., 'I bought a new cards' -> 'I bought a new deck of cards' or 'I bought some new cards').
- Misspelling as 'cads' or 'kards'.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'a house of cards' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically, 'cards' is plural. However, it can function as a singular mass noun when referring to the activity or concept of card games, e.g., 'Cards is his favourite pastime.' The singular form is 'card'.
They are synonyms. 'Deck of cards' is more common in American English, while 'pack of cards' is more common in British English. Both refer to a complete set of playing cards.
Yes. 'Cards' can refer to various types: greeting cards, business cards, credit/debit cards, identification cards, report cards, or flash cards. The context makes the meaning clear.
That is a different, unrelated verb 'to card' (meaning to comb fibres). In this sentence, 'cards' is the third-person singular present tense form of that verb. It is homographic with the plural noun 'cards'.