play for keeps

play for keeps

1. To play a game in which the wagers are kept by the winner at the end. We're playing for keeps here, so don't bet anything you can't live without.
2. To do something with a great amount of seriousness because the outcome will be permanent or have a major impact. Stock brokers at this level deal with multi-million-dollar transactions, so they are always playing for keeps. The playoffs are when everyone really starts playing for keeps.
See also: keep, play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

play for keeps

to do things with permanent effect; to be serious in one's actions. (From the game of marbles, where the winner actually keeps all the marbles won.) Are we playing for keeps or can we give everything back at the end of the game? We are playing for keeps, so be careful of what you do.
See also: keep, play
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

play for keeps

engage in an activity with ruthless determination and single-mindedness.
2003 Inc. Magazine The infamously tough buyers at Wal-Mart, he says, play for keeps. If you're a small vendor, and you fail them once, they'll never forget. You're on their shitlist for life.
See also: keep, play
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

play for keeps

in. to take serious and permanent actions. (Refers to playing a game where the money won is not returned at the end of the game.) I always play for keeps.
See also: keep, play
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • play the field
  • play the field, to
  • bet with
  • bet with (someone)
  • welch on (someone or something)
  • bet on it
  • a long shot
  • long shot
  • long shot, (not by) a
  • long shot, a
References in periodicals archive
It's up to you whether you equally share out the marbles - or play for keeps!
LEARN TO PLAY MARBLES
Panthers Play for Keeps provides a fine Pru Marlowe Pet Noir mystery revolving around a dogwalker who spots a body- and becomes involved in a real mystery.
Panthers Play for Keeps
Tracks he was a guest on, such as Jessie J's Price Tag and Bruno Mars's Beautiful Girl were reworked to focus on the rapping, but it was songs such as Play For Keeps and Strange Clouds that worked best.
B.o.B ABC, Glasgow, September 16
Etone School, in Leicester Road, is offering the free introductory music lesson at a special open day on Saturday at Etone's Yamaha Music School, which runs Yamaha's Play for Keeps and new Junior Play for Keeps courses.
Your key to musical expertise
While these deals help extend geographic coverage of service, IDT and other secondary players don't have the big money to play for keeps or withstand a battle over the long haul of losses.
Terra Nova
The school runs a Play for Keeps course suitable for children and adults and it is hoped to introduce as many new people as possible to keyboard playing.
Key to playing