Tìm kiếm
ace up one's sleeve
01
a secret advantage that a person can use when the need arises
What is the origin of the idiom "ace up one's sleeve" and when to use it?
The idiom "ace up one's sleeve" or "card up one's sleeve" has its origins in card games, particularly in the practice of cheating or having a hidden advantage in a game of cards. It refers to the act of concealing a valuable playing card (often an ace) in the sleeve of one's clothing to use it to one's advantage during the game. The phrase has since evolved to describe a secret or hidden advantage, plan, or resource that someone keeps hidden and plans to use to gain an advantage in a situation.
Ví dụ
Let's see if management has another card up its sleeve.
Darren Kinder has a couple aces up his sleeve this week.
The mayor's popularity among elderly voters gives him an ace up his sleeve for the coming election.
Hopefully he wasn't cheating with a card up his sleeve.