hold all the cards
Have total advantage
To hold all the cards is to have all the advantages or power in a situation, leaving others with little leverage.
The metaphor comes from card games where having the best hand guarantees victory: In salary negotiations, the company holds all the cards right now.
Often appears as hold all the cards or holding all the cards.
- all-powerfulHaving unlimited authority
- run the showControl an operation
- call the shotsExercise ultimate authority
- in the driver's seatHaving control or authority
- take chargeBegin leading a situation
have · upper hand · winning hand · ace up sleeve · full house · stacked deck · control · ascendancy · advantage · leverage · own · bargaining power · supremacy · dominance · possess · mastery · whip hand · edge
- gambling lingoall in, ante up, raise the stakes, go all in, high roller
hold all the cardspowerless
Lacking strength or authority
helpless · at the mercy of · dance to someone's tune · subordinate · dependent
hold all the cardsvulnerable
Open to attack
exposed · defenseless · at risk · unprotected · over a barrel
hold all the cardsbehind the eight ball
In a difficult position
outmatched · outgunned · up against it · on the back foot · empty-handed
hold, holds, holding, holder, holders, beholden, behold, card, cards