strong side
- noun
- 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
How Strong
Surface Forms
Morphology
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.