holding the cards
Having the advantage
Holding the cards means having control or advantage in a situation, from card games where the strength of your hand determines your power.
Someone holding the cards can dictate terms or outcomes: Management is holding the cards in these negotiations.
Often appears as holding all the cards, emphasizing complete dominance.
- handGrasping body part
- pokerHearth implement for coals
- dealAgreement or distribution
- drawCreate with pencil
- stacked deckPre-arranged cards for cheating
bluffing · poker face · authority · stakes · edge · leverage · upper hand · power play · call the shots · in the driver's seat · ace · ace up sleeve · supremacy · winning hand · dominance · maneuvering · gamble · high stakes
holding the cardspowerless
Lacking strength or authority
over a barrel · helpless · outmatched · at the mercy of · vulnerable
holding the cardshands are tied
boxed in · trapped · dependent · impotent · out of control
hold, holding, holds, holder, holders, behold, beholden, withhold, withholds