A: I’ll ask the boss tomorrow if there is a raise in the cards for me.

    B: Well, good luck!

    Note: The “cards” here originally refer to tarot cards, which people play to predict the future. By analyzing the cards you select, tarot readers can tell your future — what career you’re going to have, whether it’ll be successful or well-paying.

    Figuratively speaking, if we say something is in the cards, we mean that it’s likely to happen. If it’s in the cards, there’s a strong possibility that something will happen. On the other hand, if it’s not in the cards, then it’s not likely to happen. People can also say “on the cards.”