A card up one's sleeve
Meaning
To have a secret plan, advantage, or resource held in reserve for a strategic moment.
Origin
The phrase 'a card up one's sleeve' vividly conjures images from the smoky, intense world of 19th-century card games, where fortunes were won and lost on the turn of a card. In this environment, unscrupulous players, known as 'card sharps,' employed various methods to cheat. One particularly effective trick involved concealing a valuable card—perhaps an ace or a king—within the loose folds of their sleeve. Then, at a pivotal moment, they would deftly slip this hidden card into play, giving them an unfair advantage and ensuring a win. This literal act of deception, a secret advantage brought forth at the opportune time, quickly entered the broader lexicon, evolving into our modern idiom for any unforeseen advantage or plan held in reserve.
Examples
- The CEO remained unruffled during the tense negotiations, confident he still had a card up his sleeve to secure the deal.
- Even though they were trailing significantly, the coach hinted that he had a tactical card up his sleeve for the second half of the game.