Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
to know when to hold/fold them
English answer:
to know when to continue the game or to withdraw from it
Added to glossary by
Steffen Walter
Dec 2, 2002 13:41
21 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
know when to hold/fold them
Non-PRO
English
Art/Literary
Music
Music
I'm translating a retirement speech. There is an allusion to Kenny Rogers' song "The Gambler", ie to the following line "you've got to know when to hold them and know when to fold them".
Can anyone explain what this line means?
Can anyone explain what this line means?
Responses
4 +12 | know when to continue the game of withdraw from it |
Michael Tovbin
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5 +1 | I think its a more generic metaphor but... |
achisholm
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5 -1 | It refers to the lyrics and its metaphore |
EDLING (X)
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Responses
+12
2 mins
Selected
know when to continue the game of withdraw from it
hold your cards - continue the game
fold (poker term) - withdraw from the game
fold (poker term) - withdraw from the game
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much. I assumed it had something to do with playing cards, but I didn't understand "fold" in this context..."
-1
3 mins
It refers to the lyrics and its metaphore
On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere,
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
'Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
And knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
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Note added at 2002-12-02 13:46:07 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
\"When to stay somewhere or when to go\"
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness
'Til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.
He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
And knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice."
So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep."
And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window,
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-12-02 13:46:07 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
\"When to stay somewhere or when to go\"
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
airmailrpl
: poker analogy
4 mins
|
Of course, but using the support of the song
|
+1
1 hr
I think its a more generic metaphor but...
in the context you mention it refers to knowing when to stay and when to go.
The metaphor itself refers to playing cards (poker) where the skill of the game is knowing when to keep playing a hand (hold the card) or when to give up on a hand of cards (fold). That way the gambler makes a decision on whether the hand they have is worth continuing playing with, or not worth the bother and so they just fold.
As I said, given the context you mention, its probably a reference to staying or leaving. But it can be applied to any activity in where there is the choice of continuing or not continuing (living or dying if it comes to that!!).
Other examples could be; in a relationship, playing any kind of game, studying ..literally anything where there is an investment (time or money etc.) on the part of the subject (the player etc.) and there comes a time when a breakeven analysis must be performed.
The metaphor itself refers to playing cards (poker) where the skill of the game is knowing when to keep playing a hand (hold the card) or when to give up on a hand of cards (fold). That way the gambler makes a decision on whether the hand they have is worth continuing playing with, or not worth the bother and so they just fold.
As I said, given the context you mention, its probably a reference to staying or leaving. But it can be applied to any activity in where there is the choice of continuing or not continuing (living or dying if it comes to that!!).
Other examples could be; in a relationship, playing any kind of game, studying ..literally anything where there is an investment (time or money etc.) on the part of the subject (the player etc.) and there comes a time when a breakeven analysis must be performed.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Christopher Crockett
: Yes. "I'll play these" or "I'm out." In "Draw Poker" you also have the option to hold onto some of your cards ("stand pat") and replace some with newly "drawn" ones.
3 hrs
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