put someone to their trumps

present singular third person puts someone to their trumps · participle present putting someone to their trumps

1. archaicidiomaticTo put someone in a difficult situation.

   The only question was, whether such an unexpected accession of company, to an already crowded house, would not put the housekeeper to her trumps to accommodate them.

   1824, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “A Hunting Dinner”, in Tales of a Traveller, part 1 (Strange Stories. […]), Philadelphia, Pa.: H[enry] C[harles] Carey & I[saac] Lea, […], →OCLC, page 12

   2 more examples

   But when Kings come ſo low, as to fawn upon Philoſophie, which before they neither vau'd nor underſtood, tis a ſigne that failes not, they are then put to their laſt Trump.

   1649, J[ohn] Milton, chapter VI, in ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC, page 57

   I am still without any blanks from you, or notes, to renew yours at the different Banks in this City, I to day was put to my trumps completely as to the $4,000 at the Farmers Bank, the directors not being willing to take any other note but yours for its renewal, as it would relieve the security you have given me as an endorser on it;

   1821 July 5, Bernard Peyton, letter to Thomas Jefferson