"Saw the cards" is an expression that refers to the act of revealing one's true intentions or nature. There are several synonyms that can be used to replace this expression, such as "exposed," "unveiled," "laid bare," or "unmasked." All of these synonyms convey the same message that someone's genuine nature or thoughts have been revealed to others. Another popular synonym for "saw the cards" is "showed one's hand," which is often used in the context of gambling games where players are required to reveal their cards at the end of each round. In general, all of these synonyms convey a sense of honesty or transparency when speaking about someone's true intentions or character.