To defeat or surpass something by using a stronger advantage, especially in card games where a trump card beats other cards.
From Old French 'triomphe' (triumph), which came from Latin 'triumphus.' The word moved from triumph to card-game terminology in the 1500s.
In bridge and poker, trump cards literally 'triumph' over others—the card game metaphor is so powerful that 'trumped-up charges' means fake charges that beat down the truth, showing how deeply this game language shaped everyday speech.
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