Not in the Cards

Welcome to English in a Minute!

American English has many expressions that come from card games.

It’s going to rain all weekend.

How am I going to have my lawn care party now?

Yeah, that’s not the kind of activity you bring indoors.

Maybe a party is not in the cards, Anna.

Jonathan, so many people wanted to work outside for me. in the hot, hot sun!

Yeah, I bet.

If something is “not in the cards,” it is not likely to happen.

People also say “in the cards” to mean something is likely to happen.

This phrase actually comes from fortune tellers.

They use special cards to supposedly predict a person’s future.

And that’s English in a minute!