HOUSE OF CARDS

I. (noun)

Meaning:

An unstable construction with playing cards

Example:

he built three levels of his cardcastle before it collapsed

Synonyms:

card-house; cardcastle; cardhouse; house of cards

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("house of cards" is a kind of...):

construction; structure (a thing constructed; a complex entity constructed of many parts)

Meaning:

A speculative scheme that depends on unstable factors that the planner cannot control

Example:

a real estate bubble

Synonyms:

bubble; house of cards

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("house of cards" is a kind of...):

scheme; strategy (an elaborate and systematic plan of action)