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strong side

strong side

4.4
The party in a dispute that has more power or resources
  • noun
translation icon : parte más fuerte
  • Negotiations were difficult because the company was clearly the strong side in the talks.

Examples

  • In the debate, the strong side quickly gained support from the audience.

  • The coach reminded the team not to underestimate the strong side in the tournament.

  • We are on the strong side!

  • In this negotiation, we are clearly on the strong side.

  • In the debate, the strong side quickly gained support from the audience.

  • Negotiations were difficult because the company was clearly the strong side in the talks.

  • The coach reminded the team not to underestimate the strong side in the tournament.

Antonyms

5 3.7

The side of a team that is less strong and less protected

How Strong

dominant
1 4.1
strong side
4.4
weak side
5 3.7

Surface Forms

strong side singular
strong sides plural

Morphology

strong + side

The meaning 'the part/area that is stronger or has more players' is directly and predictably built from 'strong' (having strength) + 'side' (a part/area or flank). This adjective+noun composition follows normal English patterns and is cross-linguistically obvious, so a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Strong side may come from the image of a tug-of-war: the team that pulls harder is the 'strong side'. That's why it now means the group with more power or 'advantage' in a dispute.