a carte scoperte
Showing one's cards
Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'a carte scoperte' when you want to be 100% honest and show your true intentions without any secrets.
- Means: Being completely transparent and honest about your plans or feelings.
- Used in: Business negotiations, romantic confessions, or resolving family conflicts.
- Don't confuse: Don't use it for physical objects; it's only for abstract intentions.
Explanation at your level:
معنی
Being transparent.
زمینه فرهنگی
Card games like Scopa and Briscola are central to Italian social life, especially in bars and piazzas. This makes gambling metaphors very relatable to all generations. Journalists frequently use this phrase to demand transparency from politicians, reflecting a cultural desire for 'chiarezza' (clarity) in a complex political system. In Italian business culture, building 'fiducia' (trust) is essential. Using this phrase can actually speed up a deal by signaling that you are ready to skip the formalities. The historical 'Ridotti' of Venice were the first state-sanctioned gambling houses in the world, where this phrase likely gained its metaphorical power.
Use it to build trust
When you use this phrase in a negotiation, it immediately signals that you are a serious and honest person.
Don't over-use it
If you say it too often, people might start to think you are actually hiding something!
معنی
Being transparent.
Use it to build trust
When you use this phrase in a negotiation, it immediately signals that you are a serious and honest person.
Don't over-use it
If you say it too often, people might start to think you are actually hiding something!
The 'Piazza' effect
Italians value directness in personal relationships. Don't be afraid to use this with friends.
خودت رو بسنج
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Se vogliamo essere amici, dobbiamo parlare a ______ ______.
The idiom is fixed in the plural: 'carte scoperte'.
Which verb is most commonly used with this idiom?
Quale verbo si usa di più?
The idiom comes from card games, so 'giocare' (to play) is the most natural verb.
Match the situation to the best use of the phrase.
In quale situazione useresti 'a carte scoperte'?
It is used when you need to be transparent about intentions, like salary or roles.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Non so se posso fidarmi di te.' B: 'Ti giuro, sto ______ a carte scoperte.'
'Sto giocando a carte scoperte' means 'I am playing with cards on the table (being honest)'.
🎉 امتیاز: /4
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Honesty Levels
سوالات متداول
10 سوالIt is neutral. You can use it in a business meeting or with your best friend.
It's less common. Use 'parlare a carte scoperte' instead of 'dire a carte scoperte'.
Yes, but it's more idiomatic and emphasizes transparency in a specific situation.
No, that would ruin the surprise! It's for when you *want* people to know the truth.
No, 'a carta scoperta' is rarely used and sounds incorrect in this idiomatic sense.
The opposite is 'giocare coperto' or 'nascondere le proprie intenzioni'.
Yes, it is very common in emails, journalism, and literature.
Not usually. It is seen as a sign of respect and clarity.
No, 99% of the time it is used figuratively about life and communication.
It's grammatically possible but 'a carte scoperte' is the standard idiom.
عبارات مرتبط
Mettere le carte in tavola
synonymTo put the cards on the table.
A viso aperto
similarWith an open face.
Senza peli sulla lingua
similarWithout hair on the tongue.
Fare il doppio gioco
contrastTo play a double game.
Sputare il rospo
builds onTo spit out the toad.
کجا استفاده کنیم
Job Interview
Interviewer: Quali sono le sue aspettative salariali?
Candidate: Parliamo a carte scoperte: cerco almeno 40.000 euro all'anno.
Romantic Talk
Giulia: Cosa siamo noi due?
Luca: Voglio giocare a carte scoperte: mi piaci molto e voglio una relazione seria.
Business Partnership
Partner A: Abbiamo dei dubbi sulla vostra produzione.
Partner B: Giochiamo a carte scoperte. Abbiamo avuto dei ritardi, ma stiamo risolvendo.
Family Conflict
Madre: Perché non mi dici la verità?
Figlio: Va bene, giochiamo a carte scoperte. Ho perso il lavoro.
Buying a Car
Buyer: Il prezzo è troppo alto.
Seller: Parliamo a carte scoperte: questo è il prezzo minimo che posso fare.
Political Debate
Giornalista: Qual è il vostro piano per le tasse?
Politico: Agiremo a carte scoperte e presenteremo il piano domani.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a poker player who is so honest they turn their cards face-up (scoperte) for everyone to see.
Visual Association
Imagine a clear glass table where you can see every card being played from underneath. There are no shadows and no secrets.
Rhyme
Carte scoperte, porte aperte. (Open cards, open doors.)
Story
Marco was a terrible liar. Every time he played cards, his face turned red. One day, he got tired of losing and just put his cards face-up on the table. 'This is what I have!' he shouted. Surprisingly, everyone trusted him more after that, and they started using the phrase to describe his honesty.
Word Web
چالش
Try to tell a friend one small secret today and start the sentence with: 'Voglio giocare a carte scoperte...'
In Other Languages
A cartas vistas
Spanish often uses 'con las cartas sobre la mesa' more frequently than 'a cartas vistas'.
À cartes découvertes
French sometimes uses 'jouer cartes sur table' which is closer to 'mettere le carte in tavola'.
Mit offenen Karten spielen
German uses the preposition 'mit' (with) while Italian uses 'a' (at/to).
手の内を明かす (Te no uchi o akasu)
It can sometimes imply giving away a secret weakness, whereas the Italian version is more about general honesty.
بأوراق مكشوفة (Bi-awraq makshufa)
It is often used in a more formal, journalistic register than the Italian version.
开诚布公 (Kāichéngbùgōng)
It is much more formal and literary than the Italian gambling-based idiom.
패를 까다 (Pae-reul kkada)
It can sound a bit more aggressive or slangy depending on the verb used.
A cartas descobertas
In Brazil, 'abrir o jogo' (to open the game) is much more common in casual speech.
Easily Confused
Both involve 'open' things and transparency.
'Carte' is for intentions/honesty; 'Porte' is for physical access or public events.
They look very similar.
'Giocare a...' is the state of being honest; 'Scoprire le carte' is the single moment you reveal a secret.
سوالات متداول (10)
It is neutral. You can use it in a business meeting or with your best friend.
It's less common. Use 'parlare a carte scoperte' instead of 'dire a carte scoperte'.
Yes, but it's more idiomatic and emphasizes transparency in a specific situation.
No, that would ruin the surprise! It's for when you *want* people to know the truth.
No, 'a carta scoperta' is rarely used and sounds incorrect in this idiomatic sense.
The opposite is 'giocare coperto' or 'nascondere le proprie intenzioni'.
Yes, it is very common in emails, journalism, and literature.
Not usually. It is seen as a sign of respect and clarity.
No, 99% of the time it is used figuratively about life and communication.
It's grammatically possible but 'a carte scoperte' is the standard idiom.
