play for keeps

The ruling elites play for keeps.

“They want to get down to business right away and they want to play for keeps,” Quenneville said.

In a second go-around he’d have to play for keeps.

The tougher criteria to get into the September debate in Houston forced the candidates to play for keeps in the Motor City, knowing they either get a bounce for their campaigns or face elimination from the race.

The teams met last year in the preseason, but that hardly offered much of a preview for what could happen when they play for keeps.