Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[KejciorF]

Hi Everybody,

I was wondering what does the second part of the sentence mean. Does it literally mean what is says or is it some kind of an expression.

Stick to your decisions and let the chips (or the beans) fall where thay may.

TIA,

Kate.

[battlecryorsilence]

"Let the chips fall where they may" is sometimes called an idiomatic expression, but it can also be considered a metaphorical expression. (It does not mean, literally, to let some chips fall.) This expression usually follows a declaration that one has made a decision or a commitment of some sort, and it means, roughly, "regardless of the outcome/consequences" of that decision or commitment.

There's a good, concise description of the origin of this expression at

http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061030130450AAACuLC