Card Up One's Sleeve Nyt (2024)

FAQs

Have a card up one's sleeve idiom meaning? ›

A hidden or secret advantage or resource, as in Before we make a decision, let's see if management has another card up its sleeve , or You can count on John to have an ace up his sleeve . The practice of storing something in one's sleeve dates from the 16th century, when clothes rarely had pockets.

to have secret plans or ideas: If I know Mark he'll have one or two tricks up his sleeve.

card up one's sleeve decisive argument decisive resource reserve secret advantage secret weapon sure advantage trump card. ace up one's sleeve (noun as in trump card) Strong match.

This idiom dates back to the 1800s and was mostly used by poker players. Deceitful card players slipped a winning card, often an ace, secretly up their sleeves, which they only pulled out when no one was looking to win a game.

idiom. informal. : to have/keep a secret method, trick, etc., that one can use when it is needed. The coach always keeps a few tricks up his sleeve. They still have some surprises up their sleeves.

If you have something up your sleeve, you have an idea or plan which you have not told anyone about. You can also say that someone has an ace, card, or trick up their sleeve.

I learned a new idiom: "having something up one's sleeve," which means to have secret plans or ideas. This idiom is from the practice of magicians hiding tricks or gimmicks IN the sleeve, right?

informal. : to have/keep a secret method, trick, etc., that one can use when it is needed. The coach always keeps a few tricks up his sleeve.

The “roll up your sleeves” idiom means to prepare for hard work, especially physical work. It comes from the literal action of rolling up one's sleeves before doing something dirty or messy, such as cleaning, gardening, or repairing.

to have a secret idea or plan which you can use to gain an advantage over other people.