English

Verb

cash in one's chips

1. (idiomatic) To discontinue an activity, accepting whatever gains or losses one has incurred; to give up.
   • 1913, B. M. Bower, The Gringos, ch. 13:

     "Looks like these grandees'll have to cash in their chips and quit, but it's a darned shame."

   • 1988 Oct. 25, Andrea Adelson, "Business People: Harrah's Officer Joins Resorts International," New York Times (retrieved 14 June 2011):

     Yesterday the polo-playing executive cashed in his chips at Harrah's to take a post with even higher stakes, agreeing to become president and chief executive of Resorts International Inc.

   • 2005 June 21, Thomas McCarroll, "Corporate Raider on the Ropes," Time:

     "I am not going to stand by and watch this company bleed to death. If we can't make money, I will cash in my chips."

2. (idiomatic) To die.
   • 1950 Jan. 10, H. L. MacPherson, "Another Outlaw Dies With Boots Off," Windsor Star (Canada) (retrieved 14 June 2011):

     A tough old hombre, unregenerate to the last, cashed in his chips in Oklahoma City the other day.

   • 1982 Jan. 24, Evan Hunter, "Spies and Moles and Other Entertainers," New York Times (retrieved 14 June 2011):

     So what are trained readers of spy novels supposed to believe when Michael cashes in his chips and two strangers arrive to remove his body from the premises?

   • 2007 Feb. 7, Cowboy Dan Lewis, "Two Birds, But No Stone," Julian News (California, USA), p. 6 (retrieved 14 June 2011):

     Two years and one month ago I broke my neck in a car accident. I made it through but just barely. I came real close to cashing in my chips.

Synonyms

• See wikisaurus:die

See also

• cut one's losses

References

• cash in one's chips at OneLook Dictionary Search