The phrase "was in the cards" is commonly used to express the inevitability of something happening. The proper spelling of this phrase follows standard English conventions, with "was" spelled as /wɑz/ and "cards" spelled as /kɑrdz/. The pronunciation of the phrase itself is often said as /wʌz ɪn ðə kɑrdz/, with the stress on the second syllable of "cards". This phrase likely originated from fortune-telling practices where a person's future fate was determined by drawing cards from a deck.
The phrase "was in the cards" is an idiomatic expression used to convey the inevitability or likelihood of a future event or outcome. It is derived from the practice of divination or fortune-telling using playing cards, particularly tarot cards.
In a dictionary definition, "was in the cards" can be described as an idiomatic expression meaning that something was predetermined or destined to happen, often with a sense of foreknowledge or intuition. It emphasizes that the outcome or event was preordained, as if it had already been written or predicted in the cards.
The phrase suggests that the event being referred to was not a matter of chance or coincidence, but rather a result of fate or a predetermined course of events. It implies that the circumstances or signs leading up to the event were clear or significant enough to suggest an eventual outcome.
For example, if someone says, "Their breakup was in the cards," they are suggesting that the end of the relationship was expected or anticipated based on certain signs, actions, or circumstances. It implies that the breakup was almost unavoidable or predetermined.
Overall, "was in the cards" conveys a sense of inevitability or predestination, highlighting the belief that certain events or outcomes are bound to happen due to external forces or a predetermined course of events.