'To put on one's trumps' definitions:
Definition of 'To put on one's trumps'
From: GCIDE
- Trump \Trump\, n. [A corruption of triumph, F. triomphe. See Triumph, and cf. Trump a trumpet.]
- 1. A winning card; one of a particular suit (usually determined by chance for each deal) any card of which takes any card of the other suits. [1913 Webster]
- 2. An old game with cards, nearly the same as whist; -- called also ruff. --Decker. [1913 Webster]
- 3. A good fellow; an excellent person. [Slang] [1913 Webster]
- Alfred is a trump, I think you say. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
- To put to one's trumps, or To put on one's trumps, to force to the last expedient, or to the utmost exertion. [1913 Webster]
- But when kings come so low as to fawn upon philosophy, which before they neither valued nor understood, it is a sign that fails not, they are then put to their last trump. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- Put the housekeeper to her trumps to accommodate them. --W. Irving. [1913 Webster]