Definition of when the chips are down
informal
: in a difficult situation : when things are not good
True friends will stand by you when the chips are down.
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when the chips are down
when the going gets tough, the tough get going
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“When the chips are down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/when%20the%20chips%20are%20down. Accessed 24 Jun. 2021.
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