Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
a house of cards
idiom
/ə haʊs əv kɑrdz/
Definition
A structure or argument that is fragile and can easily collapse.
Examples
- The company’s financial stability was just a house of cards, ready to fall apart at any moment.
- His promises turned out to be a house of cards, as he couldn’t follow through on any of them.
- Building a relationship on lies is like constructing a house of cards; it won’t stand the test of time.
Meaning
The phrase refers to something that is built on a weak foundation and is therefore not likely to last or succeed.
Synonyms
- fragile scheme
- wobbly foundation
- unstable plan
