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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To put to one's trumps

Trump \Trump\, n. [A corruption of triumph, F. triomphe. See Triumph, and cf. Trump a trumpet.]

  1. A winning card; one of a particular suit (usually determined by chance for each deal) any card of which takes any card of the other suits.

  2. An old game with cards, nearly the same as whist; -- called also ruff.
    --Decker.

  3. A good fellow; an excellent person. [Slang]

    Alfred is a trump, I think you say.
    --Thackeray.

    To put to one's trumps, or To put on one's trumps, to force to the last expedient, or to the utmost exertion.

    But when kings come so low as to fawn upon philosophy, which before they neither valued nor understood, it is a sign that fails not, they are then put to their last trump.
    --Milton.

    Put the housekeeper to her trumps to accommodate them.
    --W. Irving.