🤹♂️ Playing Both Ends Against The Middle 🎲
To maneuver two opponents so as to benefit oneself; also, to hedge against a risk.
Origins:
This expression hails from the gambling game faro, a nineteenth-century American favorite. Known for its fairness, faro provided minimal advantage to the bank—unless, of course, someone was cheating. A crafty cheat involved using “stripper” cards trimmed ever so slightly, allowing the sharp-eyed gambler to stack the deck favorably. When these cards were altered both at the ends and in the middle, the player was said to be “playing both ends against the middle.”
Witty Insight:
“It’s like being the referee in a pillow fight—you get to decide who gets to swing next.” — G. G. Gambler
Similar Terms:
- Double-dealing: To be deceitful or treacherous.
- Hedging bets: To protect oneself against potential loss by supporting more than one possible outcome.
- Books: “The Gambler” by Fyodor Dostoevsky; “Casino” by Nicholas Pileggi
- Songs: “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers
- Movies: “Rounders”; “Maverick”
Synonyms & Antonyms.
- Synonyms: Playing both sides, straddling the fence
- Antonyms: Full commitment, taking a side
Thought-provoking Farewell:
As you navigate through life’s games, remember: strategy is about creating options. Use them wisely, and may your choices always play out in your favor.
### Which of these phrases relates to the idea of employing strategy to benefit oneself?
- [x] Playing both ends against the middle
- [ ] Running through the daisy fields
- [ ] Leaping over tall buildings
- [ ] Diving in honey pots
> **Explanation:** "Playing both ends against the middle" involves maneuvering strategy to benefit oneself. The others? Delightfully irrelevant daydreams!
### What game provided the roots for the phrase "playing both ends against the middle"?
- [x] Faro
- [ ] Poker
- [ ] Blackjack
- [ ] Roulette
> **Explanation:** The origin comes from faro, a nineteenth-century American gambling game known for its fairness and intricate cheating strategies.
### Choose the expression synonymous with "playing both ends against the middle"
- [ ] Charging with all horses
- [ ] Scaling with duck feet
- [x] Double-dealing
- [ ] Walking on marshmallows
> **Explanation:** "Double-dealing" is all about deceit and maneuvering, much like playing both ends against the middle. The others? Just for a laugh!
### True or False: "Playing both ends against the middle" directly translates to being fully committed.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** Actually, it’s quite the opposite. It means hedging your bets and strategically benefiting from both sides!
### Who is most likely to use the phrase "playing both ends against the middle"?
- [x] A strategic gambler
- [ ] A spontaneous poet
- [ ] An imaginative artist
- [ ] A professional dancer
> **Explanation:** This term is mostly associated with strategic scenarios, like gambling. Spontaneous poets and imaginative artists might be more into metaphors than strategy!
