Have something up one's sleeve
Meaning
To possess a secret plan, advantage, or resource kept hidden for future use.
Origin
In the bustling gambling halls and shadowy back rooms of the 19th century, professional card sharps were masters of subtle deception. Their wide, voluminous sleeves, a common fashion of the era, provided the perfect covert compartment. A skilled cheat could easily slip an extra ace or a crucial card into a sleeve, keeping it hidden until the opportune moment to introduce it into play and turn the tide of the game. Beyond mere trickery, magicians also leveraged their sleeves for disappearing acts and surprise reveals. This practice of concealing a vital item or advantage, ready to be deployed, cemented the phrase 'have something up one's sleeve' as a vivid metaphor for a secret plan or hidden resource.
Examples
- The chess player seemed to be losing, but I knew she had a clever strategy up her sleeve.
- Just when we thought the project was doomed, Sarah revealed she had an extra budget allocation up her sleeve.