house of cards
noun phrase
: a structure, situation, or institution that is insubstantial, shaky, or in constant danger of collapse
Examples of house of cards in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In December 2024, the regime of Bashar al-Assad crumbled like a house of cards.
—
Volker Perthes, Foreign Affairs, 24 Jan. 2025
According to predictive processing, consciousness is constructed via this hierarchy of priors like a house of cards.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 8 Jan. 2025
Don’t build yourself a house of cards that could be avoided by simply putting someone else in charge for a few days.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Some commentators have suggested Putin’s overheated war economy is a house of cards, meaning time is not actually on the Russian leader’s side.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See all Example Sentences for house of cards 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Volker Perthes, Foreign Affairs, 24 Jan. 2025
According to predictive processing, consciousness is constructed via this hierarchy of priors like a house of cards.
—Oshan Jarow, Vox, 8 Jan. 2025
Don’t build yourself a house of cards that could be avoided by simply putting someone else in charge for a few days.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Some commentators have suggested Putin’s overheated war economy is a house of cards, meaning time is not actually on the Russian leader’s side.
—Joshua Keating, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
See all Example Sentences for house of cards
Dictionary Entries Near house of cards
Cite this Entry
“House of cards.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/house%20of%20cards. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share