hole card
- noun
- /hoʊl kɑrd/
:
as bajo la manga
- The team decided to keep their hole card secret until the final round of the competition.
Examples
-
You know better than to ask to see my hole card before the money's in the bank.
Fiction book (1995) -
In negotiations, keeping a hole card can give you an advantage when the time is right.
-
All Akin did was turn over the GOP's hole card.
Blog text (32) -
When playing poker, it's wise to maintain a hole card that could surprise your opponents.
Synonyms
9
6.1
A hidden advantage you keep until you need it
5
8.1
Someone keeps something secret to use later for an advantage
5
3.8
A strong advantage that gives someone a winning edge
4
6.5
A secret plan kept to use as a surprise when needed
3
7.0
A hidden advantage that someone keeps to use later
A secret advantage someone keeps to use when needed
A secret plan you keep to use if the main plan fails
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
hole + card
The sense 'hidden asset kept in reserve' is partially inferable because 'hole' evokes concealment and 'card' evokes a game/advantage, so a learner could guess a concealed card or advantage. However, the extended, idiomatic use to mean a general resource or strategic advantage (outside literal card contexts) relies on a gambling metaphor and pragmatic knowledge, so it is not fully predictable to a B1 learner without exposure.
Etymology
Hole card is also used to mean a 'hidden advantage' outside poker. The idea comes from the poker image: like a secret card saved for the best moment, it means a resource someone keeps until it helps most.