ace up one's sleeve
Secret winning move
A secret advantage or resource held in reserve, ready to be used when needed.
The image comes from card cheating—hiding a winning card to play at the decisive moment.
She seemed cornered in the negotiation, but she had an ace up her sleeve.
Someone with an ace up their sleeve appears vulnerable but isn't.
- trump cardDecisive winning resource
- dark horseUnlikely but possible winner
- hidden agendaUndisclosed true purpose
- wild cardUnpredictable factor in play
- secret weaponHidden strategic advantage
contingency plan · plan B · sleight of hand · ace in the hole · hidden advantage · surprise element · misdirection · poker face · countermeasure · silver bullet · bluffing · hidden · covert operation · calculated risk · tactical maneuver · masterstroke · golden ticket · strategic reserve
ace up one's sleevecards on the table
Total openness about intentions
open book · full disclosure · wearing one's heart on one's sleeve · plain dealing · lay one's cards on the table
ace up one's sleeveempty-handed
Possessing nothing to show
defenseless · dead end · at wit's end · backed into a corner
ace up one's sleeveat a loss
Perplexed, without direction
defenseless · empty-handed · backs against the wall · dead in the water · tapped out