† to card a rest: to take a stand or defend one’s point. Obsolete. rare.In quot. as part of an extended metaphor likening fixing one's reserve stakes in the card game primero (cf. restn.3 5) to showing commitment to an argument or course of action.
ΚΠ
1637 T. HeywoodRoyall Kingii. sig. D4 Who kicks first, ha, come; have you minde to game? I'le cast, or set at thus much; will you card A rest for this?