have the upper hand イディオム

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

having one is better than seeing many When searching for a better job, remember A bird in the hand... .

a firm hand

a person who will discipline people The students in Grade 8 need a teacher with a firm hand.

a free hand

complete authority, freedom to control The President gave Ms. Drake a free hand in choosing the colors.

a handful

a child who is difficult to manage Jason is not easy to manage. He is a real handful for his mother.

a handout

free food or money, freeload I'm not asking for a handout. I'll pay you back when I find work.

a helping hand

help with a job or task, lend a hand May was always ready with a helping hand.

a hot hand

lucky in card games or at gambling Walter's got a hot hand tonight. He's won four games of poker.

an old hand at

a person with a lot of practice or experience Tom's an old hand at cribbage. He's played since he was a boy.

at hand

easy to reach, nearby I couldn't find any tools near at hand so I was unable to fix the stove.

at the hands of

while competing against, when fighting It was at the hands of his former student that he was defeated.

have the high hand

To accept a position of advantage, power, and/or ascendancy (over someone, something, or some situation). The home aggregation had the high duke back their opponents' brilliant quarterback went out with an injury. We've been accomplishing aggregate we can for your father, but I'm abashed the blight has the high duke now.Learn more: hand, have, upper

have (or gain) the high hand

accept (or gain) advantage or ascendancy over addition or something.Learn more: hand, have, upper

get, have, gain, etc. the ˌupper ˈhand (over somebody)

get, etc. ability or ascendancy over somebody, abnormally in a fight, competition, etc: Our aggregation acquired the high duke in the additional bisected of the match. ♢ The badge affirmation they accept the high duke in their action adjoin the biologic dealers.Learn more: hand, upper

upper hand, to accept the

To be in a assertive or authoritative position. This appellation has been about back the fifteenth century. It comes from an age-old bank bold in which anniversary amateur in about-face puts one duke on a stick, alpha at the bottom, and the aftermost one able to put his duke at the top wins. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer has it, “Up, Lord, and let not man accept the high hand” (from Miles Coverdale’s adaptation of Psalm 9:19).Learn more: have, upper

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More Idioms/Phrases

at sixes and sevens at someone at stake at the crack of dawn at the drop of a hat at the eleventh hour at the end of my rope/ at the end of my tether at the end of one at the hands of at the ripe old age at the top of her game at the top of his voice at the top of one at the wheel at this point in time at will at your beck and call