A decisive confrontation or contest between opposing parties, often used to resolve a long-standing conflict or competition.
Originally from poker terminology (1870s) referring to the moment when players reveal their cards to determine the winner. The word expanded beyond gambling to describe any decisive confrontation by the early 20th century.
The poker origins explain why 'showdown' carries connotations of revealing hidden strengths or bluffing - in both cards and conflicts, the moment of truth exposes what each side actually possesses versus what they claimed to have.
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