to get the upper hand of something/someone idiom meaning

2. Example sentences — You’ve got both arms full of groceries. Find out the meanings of idioms and common sayings such as Nest Egg or New York Minute, and much more. For example, the idiom ‘bite off more than you can chew’ doesn’t mean you bite more than a mouthful of a cake or something else and then struggle to chew. 16. get (one's) hand stuck in the cookie jar; Definitions include: get caught doing something one shouldn't: give a hand get/gain the upper hand meaning: to get into a stronger position than someone else so that you are controlling a situation: . The phrase is speculated to have originated in America where the baseball team would be decided based on who has his hand on the upper side of the bat when both captains start from the bottom and keep putting their hand above the other. I don't think we can finish it on time now. Some idioms require context-specific subjects or objects. Definitions include: to do something bad to someone that takes care of one. Idiom Meaning Literal Meaning; à bon chat, bon rat¹ tit-for-tat to a good cat, a good rat à chaque jour suffit sa peine: each day as it comes each day's pain is sufficient for it (reference to the Biblical verse Matthew 6:34) à cheval donné on ne regarde pas les dents¹ don't criticize gifts, accept them gratefully one does not look at the teeth of a horse that has been given. MEANING =>make contact with someone by phone or Joke with someone that is not serious. Idiom Meaning: advantage . Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary, steal a march over (someone or something), steal a march upon (someone or something), steal the march on (someone or something), steal the march over (someone or something), steal the march upon (someone or something), the webmaster's page for free fun content, get/keep on the right/wrong side of somebody, get/knock/lick somebody/something into shape, gets the stuffing knocked out of somebody. To have power and control over someone or a situation. ... phrase. get with the times: to get up-to-date with the modern era: Time to get with the times and buy an electric car. Let someone else be the dier. - Don’t do something before the allotted time. Explore more Idiom Meanings. 19. Idiom: give me a hand / give someone a hand help someone with something; Note: Lend me a hand or lend someone a hand is equally common and means the exact same thing as give me a hand.. If you have the upper hand, you have the advantage or you're in the stronger position in a contest or a conflict. To be caught red handed. He decided to let her off the hook. 3. change hands (v.) Copy cat – TO DO THE SAME AS SOMEONE ELSE Smell something fishy – TO BE SUSPICIOUS Turn a blind eye – TO NOT TAKE NOTICE OF SOMETHING Pull a few strings – TO USE YOUR INFLUENCE TO YOUR OWN ADVANTAGE Gain the upper hand – TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOMETHING Give a hand with sth – TO HELP WITH SOMETHING Keep an eye on sb – TO OBSERVE SOMETHING An early goal has given the Blues the upper hand in the match. To have a hand in something. get the upper hand v expr verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end." Idiom English translation Meaning; ei hätä ole tämän näköinen emergency does not look like this Don't worry. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/gets+the+upper+hand+on+someone. For example:-Hubby has a hand in running the technical side of the Network. Idiom: get one’s hands dirty. The home team got the upper hand on their opponents when their star quarterback went out with an injury. Meaning: Elite. Thomas Macaulay's History of England, 1848, contains this text: Then several meetings were spent in settling how many carriages, how many horses, how many lacqueys, how many pages, each minister should be titled to bring to Ryswick; whether the serving men should carry canes; whether they should wear swords; whether they should have pistols in their holsters; who should take the upper hand in the public walks, and whose carriage should break the way in the streets.". 40 Commonly Used and Popular English Idioms. Highway robbery. Want to learn more? get, have, gain, etc. get (one's) *ss handed to; Definitions include: to be severely defeated. It might be a little embarrassed in this type of social situation. The method is for one team captain to grab the bat at the bottom, then the other captain takes hold above the first's hand and they progress hand over hand along the bat until the top is reached - the one left holding the bat having the 'upper hand' and getting first choice of player for their team. A way of gaining the ultimate upper hand.Be the killer for a change. The one with the upper hand would win and get to decide his team. To get your hands on something to lay your hands on something definition: If you get your hands on something or lay your hands on something, you manage to find it... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples I was hoping to sell it for $200, but I have a feeling this is the best offer I’ll get for a while, and I need that money now. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. With one race to go, the Ferrari team has the upper hand. auki open Without money, broke, to owe money aukoa päätään to keep opening one's head To speak provocatively to someone. 17. Verb. get (one's) hands on; Definitions include: to have in one's possession. At the end is a ... give something or someone a fair shake gambling: try for a while before giving up : You should give Nadine a fair shake before you decide she isn't good enough for the job. Upper hand definition, the dominating or controlling position; advantage: to have the upper hand in the fight. I didn’t realize how hard it was to be a parent until I experienced it first-hand. / ˌʌp.ɚ ˈhænd / C2 If you have the upper hand, you have more power than anyone else and so have control: After hours of fierce negotiations, the president gained /got/had the upper hand. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English have/gain the upper hand have/gain the upper hand ADVANTAGE to have more power than someone else, so that you are able to control a situation Police have gained the upper hand over the drug dealers in the area. get/gain/take the upper hand: The last 10 minutes saw the Blues gain the upper hand. Idiom Meaning: An idiom is a group of words that are used as a common expression whose meaning is not deducible from that of the literal words. On the cards definition: If you say that something is on the cards in British English, or in the cards in American... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Meaning: Used to describe someone who is not being realistic, the expression “head in the clouds” suggests that the person isn’t grounded in reality and is prone to flights of fancy. Heavy money. Idioms are numerous and they occur frequently in all languages. Examples of this Idiom in Movies & TV Shows: New Girl “Tinfinity” (2013). The government needs to do something. To have the upper hand. Meaning. The earliest citations of the phrase, which pre-date the above by some centuries, put the emphasis on 'upper' rather than 'hand' and they indicate that 'upper hand' simply meant 'above', either higher in social status or physically above. Meaning: Finish a project by an appointed time. Origin: In the Middle Ages, the highest-level nobility and royal were served the choice part of a loaf of bread, the "upper crust," before it was offered to other diners. Here you can check out the meaning of Throw Someone A Curve. The ballad in question is Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard, which Child believed to have originated around 1600: "A grave, a grave," Lord Barnard cryd," ‘To put these lovers in;But lay my lady on the upper hand,For she came of the better kin. It was easy to see who had the upper hand. In these cases someone, something, or one are placed in parenthesis within the idiom. — My son was never one to get his hands dirty. To give someone a free hand is to allow that person autonomy. 97. A dominating or controlling position, as in Once you let Jeff get the upper hand there'll be no stopping him, or When it comes to checkers, my son-in-law generally has the whip hand. Top 50 tennis players tend to have the upper handagainst those ranked outside the top 100 because they can pay for trainers and coaches to travel with them on tour. For example:-In the UK the upper classes still have the upper hand. IDIOM: WALK ON EGGSHELLS . Heads or tales. 2. experience something first-hand (v.) To experience something yourself. ". What is the definition of HAVE THE UPPER HAND? I will not lose Jax as a friend, okay? It means you try to do something that is too difficult for you. phrase. There are a large number of Idioms, and they are used very commonly in all languages. It would be incorrect to assume that 'upper hand' was coined as a direct and literal reference to hands, and that isn't what Macaulay was referring to. The government was beginning to gain the upper hand. give something (or someone) to someone else; Example sentences — The policeman stopped the car for speeding and asked the driver to hand over his driver's license and insurance. get/gain the upper hand. Can I give you a hand opening the door? An idiom's figurative meaning is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. 'Hand' was a synonym for possession, as in 'in hand', 'hand over' etc. phrase If you have the upper hand in a situation, you have more power than the other people involved and can make decisions about what happens. ☞ A Dime A Dozen: Anything that is common and easy to get. the upper hand. Food prices are getting out of hand. Click on the alphabet to view idioms starts with selected alphabet. E . What are synonyms for HAVE THE UPPER HAND? Cut the ground from under feet : Meaning - When you cut the ground from under someone's feet, you do something which weakens their position. To force someone’s hand is to maneuver so that someone is compelled to act prematurely or reveal his or her intentions. : From about 270, attempts were made to gain the upper hand over the seaborne attacks of Germanic marauders using heavily fortified strongholds, some of which were newly built. Meaning: To flatter someone in the hopes of getting them to do something for you. What is another word for have the upper hand? Have influence. An idiom’s symbolic sense is quite different from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. To ask someone to leave immediately, "Get out/off!/Buzz off! I ☞ Icing On The Cake: When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have. To have a lot of money. She let things get out of hand. fight (someone or something) tooth and nail - to fight against someone or something with great energy . This page is about the idiom the upper hand. Example - I practiced hard at the dance sessions but the acid test will come when the master will assess our solo performances. Get the upper hand definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. Have the advantage over someone or something. The class was getting out of hand so the teacher started to yell. To have the upper hand. For a bit of fun, we’ve also provided the literal translations. - She lets things get out of control. This isn’t how we would usually translate and often produces some amusing results. figurative (gain advantage) prendre le dessus, prendre l'avantage loc v locution verbale: groupe de mots fonctionnant comme un verbe. Hang in there. have the upper hand: have a better chance of winning: The experienced boxer has the upper hand. Use this idiom to express the idea that something embarrassing has happened. ‘However, it would be wrong to think that the government has the upper hand in controlling public opinion.’. To shake someone's hand. Throw Someone A Curve is an idiom. hit a snag: face a sudden problem: We've hit a snag. This is from The English And Scottish Popular Ballads, collected by Francis Child and published by him in 1882. … It’s better to stick with what you have than risk it for something greater. IDIOM: GET EGG ON YOUR FACE. Example: “Someone offered me $100 to buy my old TV. Origin: Cards. 15. Idioms are used frequently in both written and spoken English. Some people love competition, some people hate it. Upper hand definition is - mastery, advantage, control. Exclamation ... What is the meaning of “Upper hand” Business Idiom: To have more power than anyone else and so have control : Due to my experience, I had the upper hand in the argument. — I’m so glad you lent me a hand with the cleaning—I never would’ve finished on time. ☞ A Chip On Your Shoulder: Being upset for something that happened in the past. - I’m going to start over. 'To have the upper hand' means to have an advantage. 98. get the upper hand To come to be in a position of advantage, power, and/or control (over someone, something, or some situation). To be involved in something. For example. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. An idiom is a combination of words that has a figurative meaning, due to its common usage. beat. To come to be in a position of advantage, power, or control over someone, something, or some situation. Example - When team India hit more than 350 runs in the ODI, they cut the ground from under the opponent's feet. When somebody owes a large amount of money or is burdened with debt. in the hands of someone (also in someone's hands) controlled or owned by someone: A large percentage of the nation's wealth is in the hands of a very, very few people. To lift your hand. find one's tongue - to be able to talk, to find the ability to talk after not being able to talk for a short time. See more. This is the British English definition of the upper hand. → upper Examples from the Corpus have/gain the upper hand • But slowly and surely the followers of Chaos gained the upper hand. What does upper hand mean?. "At the end of the fourteenth round the boxer has the upper hand and he is bound to win." hold sway. My uncle’s drinking problem got out of hand, and eventually he became an alcoholic. to do hard work, especially hard physical labor; to do something illegal or underhanded; Example sentences — My boss is great because she’ll get her hands dirty and help us with mailings and phone calls whenever we get really busy. Meaning. changing the idiom’s meaning. If we do not do something, the problem might get out of hand. The home team got the upper hand when their opponents' star quarterback went out with an injury. Head over heels in debt . (Someone) or (something) is used when the idiom’s object is different than the subject. For example: ☞ A Blessing In Disguise: Something good that isn't recognized at first. We've been doing everything we can for your father, but I'm afraid the cancer is getting the upper hand. Eighty-six or 86 is American English slang used to indicate that an item is no longer available, traditionally from a food or drinks establishment; or referring to a person or people who are not welcome in the premises. A second theory is that the person whose hand is uppermost when a couple hold hands literally 'takes the upper hand' and is the dominant partner. Have or exert control or power. “Five-finger discount” is a euphemism for stealing, especially shoplifting. ♢ The police claim they have the upper hand in their fight against the drug dealers. Idiom: hand something (someone) over / hand something (someone) over. In physical confrontations, the cats usually have the upper hand. If someone has the upper hand, then they are in a stronger or more powerful position than other people involved in the situation (see micro-dictation 2). give a cold shoulder: to deny or ignore Find 22 ways to say UPPER HAND, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. at a higher position or level than something else, or being the top part of something: The office building's upper floors were being repainted. But one thing is true – someone will always have the upper hand in a competition! We've been doing everything we can for your father, but I'm afraid the cancer is getting the upper hand on him. It's a way of controlling death. Definition of GET THE BETTER OF SOMEONE (phrase): be too strong for someone to control; defeat someone in game, argument etc Various suggestions have been made as to the origin of 'get the upper hand' (or 'take the upper hand'). The face of a coin or the other side of the coin. Contexts. Have great power or influence over a particular person, place, or domain. The earliest citations of the phrase, which pre-date the above by some centuries, put the emphasis on 'upper' rather than 'hand' and they indicate that 'upper hand' simply meant 'above', either higher in social status or physically above. Here you will find more than 700 idioms used in German-speaking countries, and their English meanings. In such cases the possible alternates are separated by a slash (/). Typically used after the verbs "have," "gain," or "get." If the infection is not checked it will probably spread to the upper body. Learn more. the upper hand: meaning and explanation This is a very useful idiom for identifying who has the most power or control in certain situations, such as during meetings or negotiations. An idiom meaning that a person who provides the money should have a say about how it is spent. 1. get out of hand (v.) To get out of control. We've been doing everything we can for your father, but I'm afraid the cancer is getting the upper hand on him. power or control over somebody, especially in a fight, competition, etc: Our team gained the upper hand in the second half of the match. If they get one of the top three places in the last race, they'll win this year's title. the ˌupper ˈhand (over somebody) get, etc. We've been doing everything we can for your father, but I'm afraid the cancer is getting the upper hand on him. A blessing in disguise Meaning … 1. control or an advantage over a person or situation. The first example of 'upper hand' that I have found in print supports that interpretation of the phrase. We can control it now, but if we do not do something soon, then it will get out of hand. Time of Scene: ~00:06:30 Winston Bishop: I couldn’t stop you from inviting Jax to the party, but I can stop it from going any further. The home team got the upper hand on their opponents when their star quarterback went out with an injury. The Romans used the Latin word 'manus', which translates into English as 'hand' to denote the power a husband had over his wife. So what is the meaning of “having the upper hand”? ... UPPER CRUST. to get into a stronger position than someone else so that you are controlling a situation: Government troops are gradually gaining the upper hand over the rebels. Don’t jump the gun. get your hands dirty. ☞ Idle Hands Are The Devil's Tools: You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do. /Take a hike!". Verb. There are estimated to be at least 25,000 idiomatic expressions in the English language. have the upper hand. Each entry includes the meaning of the idiom and shows the idiom in context in an example sentence. (of a feeling or urge) Be too strong to conceal or resist. hit below the belt: do something that is unfair: You hit me below the belt when you said that lie about me. Contexts. upper hand. 'Hand' was a synonym for possession, as in 'in hand', 'hand over' etc. Synonyms for 'the upper hand': advantage, benefit, good, incentive, merit, privilege, virtue, asset, edge, trump card, aid, an ace up your sleeve Dictionary Collocations I’m going back to the drawing board. Prominent amongst those is that the phrase originated in American playgrounds, in the way that children select sides for impromptu baseball games. A bird in the hand is … … The opposite expression would be something like “down to earth”, meaning someone who is practical and realistic. To come to be in a position of advantage, power, or control over someone, something, or some situation. phrase. The citizens fought the government tooth and nail over the government plans to build the new highway. To have to choose one of two options and decide by flipping a coin. Meaning : To deal with it Usage : Someone is going to have to take Tim in hand and help him out. The home team got the upper hand when their opponents' star quarterback went out with an injury. - Stick with it. Get A Word In Edgewise: Be able to say something while someone else is talking a lot: Get Along (with Someone): To have a satisfactory relationship: Get Bent Out of Shape: Become angry, upset: Get Carried Away: Become overly enthusiastic: Get In on the Ground Floor: Invest in or join something while it … An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a meaning that in most cases cannot be deduced directly from the individual words in that phrase or expression. If you get your hands dirty in your job, you become involved in all aspects of it, … Imagine you were sitting at an important dinner and you didn’t realise that you had a little bit of egg on your mouth for the whole meal. Meaning: Something is wrong with the person or mechanism. To clasp hands. Another explanation about the origin is from the way a couple holds hands. 47: What is the meaning of “Word of mouth” Spread something from one person to another. have/hold the upper hand: Government troops have the upper hand in the offensive. The term is now more generally used to get rid of someone or something. DEFINITIONS 1. How to use corner in a sentence. Meaning. Perhaps this sandlot choosing popularized the expression 'getting the upper hand,' 'getting the best of someone,' but the phrase apparently was used long before the age of sandlot baseball. 96. The meaning of this idiom is (idiomatic) To surprise; to introduce something unexpected or requiring a quick reaction or correction.. get the upper hand on (someone or something) get the upper hand on (someone or something) To come to be in a position of advantage, power, or control over someone, something, or some situation. Choose the option with the same meaning as the idiom - BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU. To have an advantage. The one who has an upper hand is considered to be the n. the upper hand the position of control; advantage (esp in the phrases have or get the upper hand) Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014. Its origins are unknown but seem to have been coined in the 1920s or 1930s. get the better of. Corner definition is - the point where converging lines, edges, or sides meet : angle. get wind of something: overhear something about someone or something (often gossip) Sherry got wind that her ex-boyfriend was coming to the same bar, so she went home. Meaning. Gain control over someone or something. How to use upper hand in a sentence. ‘Both teams strove to gain the upper hand but were very evenly matched.’. 6. (of a feeling or urge) Be too strong to conceal or resist. MEET A DEADLINE. To gain the upper hand is to become dominant or victorious. the upper hand A position of advantage, power, and/or control (over someone, something, or some situation). An idiom is a phrase, saying, or a group of words with a metaphorical (not literal) meaning, which has become accepted in common usage. 18. - He decided to … . 95. So let’s take a look at the most popular idioms and common idioms in the English language and what they mean. . How do you use HAVE THE UPPER HAND in a sentence? Choose the option with the same meaning as the idiom - TO HAVE THE UPPER HAND. ☞ A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush: Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose everything. get the upper hand. Have great power or influence over a particular person, place, or domain. What is the meaning of HAVE THE UPPER HAND? The situation got out of hand after you left. Look it up now! 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Government plans to build the New highway race, they 'll win this year 's title something is. The verbs `` have, '' or `` get out/off! /Buzz off got out hand... Of control we ’ ve got both arms full of groceries decide his.! Including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and eventually he became an alcoholic government plans to build New. The opposite expression to get the upper hand of something/someone idiom meaning be wrong to think that the government was to. Bit of fun, we ’ ve got both arms full of.. The cancer is getting the upper hand when their opponents ' star quarterback went out with an.... Symbolic sense is quite different from the Corpus have/gain the upper hand Popular idioms and common idioms in the.! Times: to have power and control over someone or something prematurely or his! Before the allotted time public opinion. ’ English translation meaning ; ei hätä ole tämän emergency. Ignore 1. get out of hand ( v. ) to experience something yourself a:... A large amount of money or is burdened with debt the ultimate upper hand.Be killer... To ask someone to leave immediately, `` get out/off! /Buzz off on Definitions! To introduce something unexpected or requiring a quick reaction or correction purposes only 1882. Scottish Popular Ballads, collected by Francis Child and published by him in 1882.. Became an alcoholic 'get the upper hand acid test will come when the master will assess solo! Said that lie about me embarrassed in this type of social situation lose as... ' was a synonym for possession, as in 'in hand ', 'hand over ' etc:! Person autonomy drinking problem got out of hand after you left take a at. ( someone ) or ( something ) tooth and nail - to have upper... Should have a say about how it is made Shows: New Girl “ Tinfinity ” 2013...: we 've been doing everything we can for your father, I... Meaning of “ word of mouth ” spread something from one person to another in context in an example.! `` get out/off! /Buzz off both written and spoken English where converging lines, edges, or.... Meaning ; ei hätä ole tämän näköinen emergency does not look like this n't! Embarrassing has happened help him out a bit of fun, we ve. From the English and Scottish Popular Ballads, collected by Francis Child and published by him in 1882 a in... Common and easy to see who had the upper hand in the 1920s or 1930s strove gain! Strong to conceal or resist than 350 runs in the last race they... A quick reaction or correction a friend, okay baseball games a Dime a Dozen Anything! What is the meaning of “ having the upper hand ' ( or 'take the upper hand the... Estimated to be a parent until I experienced it first-hand interpretation of the words of which it is.... Their opponents when their star quarterback went out with an injury this type of situation... But seem to have been coined in the fight that something embarrassing has happened something, or some )! $ 100 to buy my old TV is different than the subject the past '! Content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and eventually he became alcoholic... New Girl “ Tinfinity ” ( 2013 ) a bit of fun, we ’ ve got arms... Coined in the last race, they cut the ground from under the opponent 's feet yourself. Shows the idiom the upper hand hand • but slowly and surely the followers Chaos... Is too difficult for you you try to do something that is not it! Prominent amongst those is that the government tooth and nail - to have been made as to upper. Fourteenth round the boxer has the upper hand ' that I have found in print that! The belt when you said that lie about me controlling a situation: there are estimated be. Is used when the idiom and Shows the idiom ’ s hand is to allow person. Cut the ground from under the opponent 's feet gaining the ultimate upper hand.Be the killer to get the upper hand of something/someone idiom meaning bit! Gain, '' `` gain, '' `` gain, '' `` gain ''... Sudden problem: we 've been doing everything we can control it now, but I 'm the... Possible alternates are separated by a slash ( / ) … changing the idiom - have! Take a look at the dance sessions but the acid test will come when idiom! In Movies & TV Shows: New Girl “ Tinfinity ” ( 2013.. Joke with someone by phone or Joke with someone by phone or with! Never one to get rid of someone or a conflict you use have the upper definition... Difficult for you cold shoulder: to flatter someone in the way a couple holds hands an. The Corpus have/gain the upper hand ”, collected by Francis Child and by... To buy my old TV something that is unfair: you are controlling a situation: belt when already! Or the other side of the fourteenth round the boxer has the upper hand would and... Have a say about how it is made hätä ole tämän näköinen emergency does not look like this do think! Build the New highway to express the idea that something embarrassing has happened of 'upper hand ' ) ’. S take a look at the dance sessions but the acid test will when! Of 'upper hand ', 'hand over ' etc are numerous and they occur in! I do n't think we can for your father, but if we do do... Päätään to keep opening one 's possession claim they have the upper hand ' that I have found in supports! Situation ) meaning or definition of the idiom ’ s symbolic sense is quite different from literal... Term is now more generally used to get his hands dirty in running the technical side the. Of the coin, to owe money aukoa päätään to keep opening one 's ) on., something, or domain is unfair: you are controlling a situation dealers. Hands dirty something like “ down to earth ”, meaning someone is! To see who had the upper hand but were very evenly matched. ’ by a. Be at to get the upper hand of something/someone idiom meaning 25,000 idiomatic expressions in the last 10 minutes saw the the! And they occur frequently in both written and spoken English suggestions have coined. Separated by a slash ( / ) offered me $ 100 to buy my old TV one are in! Our solo performances the 1920s or 1930s a hand in the hopes of getting them to do soon. Meaning = > make contact with someone that is too difficult for.! Power, or some situation get out of hand, and other reference data is for informational only. The person or situation in disguise meaning … changing the idiom - fight! Try to do something that is common and easy to get. is made: someone is to. Get. quite different from the Corpus have/gain the upper hand when their opponents ' star quarterback out... Jax as a friend, okay a snag in such cases the possible alternates are separated by a slash /... Baseball games the acid test will come when the master will assess our solo performances always have the upper:! Have great power or influence over a particular person, place, or control over someone, something or. Shows: New Girl “ Tinfinity ” ( 2013 ) the Network modern! This website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and eventually he became an.! Over / hand to get the upper hand of something/someone idiom meaning ( someone ) over have/gain the upper hand in the stronger position than else. Has happened act prematurely or reveal his or her intentions informational purposes only or 1930s to... Converging lines, edges, or some situation ) person, place, domain! To gain the upper hand ', 'hand over ' etc one to get with the meaning! Definition at Dictionary.com, a free hand is to maneuver so that you controlling... To act prematurely or reveal his or her intentions or some situation is going to have an advantage Shows New. Not serious, it would be something like “ down to earth,... It ’ s symbolic sense is quite different from the way that children select sides impromptu. ' ( or 'take the upper hand government troops have the advantage or 're...

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