come up trumps

またまた宮市亮記事からです。trumpには「最後の手，奥の手」という意味があることから，come up trumpsは「奥の手が（偶然にも）出てきた」と直訳できます。ここから「予想以上に上手くいく，ついている」という意味になりました。これはイギリス英語の口語表現ですが，アメリカでもたまに使われるようです（『オーレックス英和辞典』旺文社）。at the deathはbe in at the deathとなると「重要な場面に立ち会う」となるので，ここでは「重要な場面で」と解釈できます。（Sugiuchi）

Despite Cisse's controversial leveller, Bolton continued to press and Sam Ricketts had a curling shot that cleared the bar before Klasnic came up trumps at the death.
Coyle said: "Klasnic is a prolific striker — and has not played as regularly recently because we've had to shore things up in the midfield and sacrificed a forward.
"But we've been positive, bringing him on to try and win the game. There was only one outcome when he was one-on-one with the keeper."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4185197/Bolton-2-1-QPR-Match-report-pictures-video-highlights.html