Ace up one’s sleeve

Definitions

• hidden advantage or resource
  Refers to a secret or hidden advantage or resource that can be used to ensure success or gain an advantage in a situation

• secret plan
  Refers to a secret plan or strategy that can be used to achieve a favorable outcome

Examples of Ace up one’s sleeve

• The magician had an ace up his sleeve when he revealed it to the audience, making it seem like he had predicted their guesses.

  This idiom refers to having a secret or unexpected plan ready to be implemented at the right time, just like a magician who keeps an ace card hidden in his sleeve until the perfect moment to reveal it.

• She always had an ace up her sleeve when it came to negotiating salaries.

  This idiom can also be used to describe someone who has a strategic advantage in a particular situation, such as negotiating a salary. It implies that the person has a secret or unexpected tactic to use in the negotiation process, giving them an edge over the other party.

• I wasn't expecting him to have an ace up his sleeve in a meeting, but he surprised me with a new proposal.

  This example demonstrates how the idiom can be used in a meeting scenario where one party appears to have a surprise or secret plan to present to the group, causing others to be caught off guard.

• He always likes to have an ace up his sleeve when making presentations, but today he seemed to have forgotten it.

  This final example highlights the importance of being prepared and having a backup plan in important situations. It implies that the person in question is usually well-prepared, but on this particular occasion, he failed to have a secret strategy or idea to fall back on.

• During the job interview, the candidate had an ace up her sleeve - she mentioned her previous experience working for a similar company, which impressed the interviewer and gave her an edge over other applicants.

  This idiom is a figure of speech used to describe a secret plan, advantage, or strategy that is kept hidden until needed, similar to a magician's trick with an ace of spades that is kept in his sleeve. In this example, the candidate kept her previous work experience hidden until the right moment during the interview to make a favorable impression on the interviewer.

• The sales executive had an ace up his sleeve when negotiating with the client. He promised to throw in some additional services as a bonus, which he had kept hidden until the closing stages of the deal.

  This is another instance of the idiom being used when someone has a secret or hidden benefit that they can offer as a last-minute advantage during negotiations or discussions. In this example, the sales executive had prepared a surprise offer for the client, which he revealed at the right moment, helping him to secure the deal.

• The politician had an ace up his sleeve when making his case in parliament. He presented a previously unheard-of proposal that gained support from his fellow members, which helped him to win the vote.

  This illustrates how the idiom can be used in a professional setting when someone has a surprise or unconventional strategy that they can use to their advantage during an important decision-making process, like a parliamentary vote. In this example, the politician had come up with a fresh idea that he had kept hidden until the debate, which helped him to win the votes.

• During the poker game, the player had an ace up his sleeve when he still had two cards left to reveal. He made a daring move by bluffing his opponents into thinking that he had a winning hand, which led them to fold their cards.

  This example showcases how the idiom can be used in a gambling context, where a player has a secret strategy or hidden card that they can use to gain an advantage over their opponents. In this scenario, the player had kept his strategy hidden until the end of the game, which helped him to win the pot.

Conclusion

The idiom "ace up one’s sleeve" is used to describe a hidden advantage or resource that someone has, which they can use to ensure success or gain an advantage in a situation. It can also refer to a secret plan or strategy that can be used to achieve a favorable outcome. Overall, the idiom suggests that the person has something up their sleeve that others are not aware of, giving them an edge in a particular situation.

Origin of "Ace up one’s sleeve"

The origin of the idiom "ace up one’s sleeve" can be traced back to the practice of cheating in card games. In the past, players would hide a winning card, typically an ace, up their sleeve to use it when needed to ensure a favorable outcome. Over time, the idiom has evolved to encompass any hidden advantage or resource that can be used to gain an edge in a situation. The phrase has become a metaphor for having a secret plan or strategy that can be used to ensure success. Overall, the idiom has its roots in the world of card games and has since been adapted to describe hidden advantages or resources in various contexts.