Upper hand

Meaning

The idiom "upper hand" refers to having the advantage or being in a more favorable position than someone else. It can also mean being able to influence or control something.

Usage

• After the debate, it seemed like John had the upper hand with his compelling arguments.
• She was able to take the upper hand on negotiations and secured a better deal for her company.
• The football team had the upper hand for most of the game.
• With her excellent performance in the audition, Sarah had the upper hand in landing the role.
• In this match, it looks like the home team has the upper hand with their loyal fans supporting them. The usage of "upper hand" can vary depending on the context. It can be used in a positive or negative way, and its meaning can be implied rather than stated outright. For example, "He had the upper hand for most of the game" implies that the other team was struggling to keep up. On the other hand, "She was able to take the upper hand on negotiations" implies that the other party was not successful in their negotiations.

Roots and History

The idiom "upper hand" has been used since at least the 16th century. It originally referred to having control or dominance over something, and it was often used in a military context. For example, if one army had the upper hand, it meant that they were winning the battle and gaining more territory. Over time, the idiom's meaning expanded to include other situations where someone has an advantage or is in a favorable position.

Synonyms in English

• advantage
• edge
• lead
• upper hand
• authority

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - ventaja: To have an advantage or benefit over something.
• French - avantage: Having an advantage or advantageous position.
• German - Vorteil: Having an advantage or benefit.
• Italian - vantaggio: Having an advantage or benefit.
• Portuguese - vantagem: Having an advantage or benefit.

Similar Idioms

• take it on the chin

• burn fingers

• up to no good