ace up one's sleeve
3
7.0
- idiom
- Informal
:
as bajo la manga
- He had some kind of ace up his sleeve, and he wanted me to arrange the hand just right so he could play it with a flourish.
- got an ace up one's sleeve
- one ace up one's sleeve
Examples
-
He's still got an ace up his sleeve and it hasn't failed him yet.
Blog text (29) -
She had an ace up her sleeve that helped her win the negotiation unexpectedly.
-
It's like an ace up my sleeve.
-
This is an ace up his sleeve.
Blog text (33) -
I got aces up my sleeve.
-
"Got a few aces up my sleeve...
Fiction book (1995) -
Please tell me there's an ace up your sleeve.
Fiction book (1992) -
- Don't you yell at me or I'll tell them about the ace up your sleeve.
-
It will be pods or bust for Utah, unless Larry has an ace up his sleeve that leaves Utah no choice but to kowtow to his demands.
Blog text (32) -
Of course, I had an ace up my sleeve, heh—one example of a rich kid guilty over inheriting Daddy Warbuck's ill-gotten gains, so he gifted the business to the employees.
Blog text (10)
Synonyms
9
6.1
A hidden advantage you keep until you need it
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
1
4.7
A strong advantage kept for an important moment to help win
A secret advantage someone keeps to use when needed
A secret advantage saved to use later
A secret plan you keep to use if the main plan fails
A helpful idea or tool kept secret to use when needed
A secret plan kept to use later when you need it
Antonyms
How Advantageous
Surface Forms
Morphology
ace + up + one's + sleeve
The pieces give a clear clue: an "ace" (a high-value card) hidden "up one's sleeve" evokes a concealed, powerful resource, so a learner who knows these words can plausibly infer a secret advantage. However, understanding the idiomatic use relies on cultural knowledge (hiding an ace to cheat) and the full figurative sense is not guaranteed for a B1 learner without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The idiom ace up one's sleeve may come from old card games where a player secretly hid an ace in their sleeve to play at the right moment. That's why it now means 'a secret advantage' you keep until you need it.