card up one's sleeve

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Idioms and Phrases

Also, ace up one's sleeve . 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. The current term comes from gambling, where a dishonest player might so conceal an ace or other winning card. [Mid-1800s]

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April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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