when the chips are down

در موقعیت بحرانی

a very urgent, difficult, dangerous or desperate situation especially one that makes you realize true value or color of people or things.
A time of testing
A time of crisis
Her husband bailed out and left her alone when the chips were down

وقتی که توی شرایط سختی هستی مخصوصا شرایطی که آزمایش می کنه که می تونی به مردم اعتماد کنی