Trump card
Meaning
A decisive advantage, resource, or strategy held in reserve and used to win or achieve a desired outcome.
Origin
The phrase "trump card" sails straight out of the 16th-century card tables of England, echoing the shouts of players during games like 'Triumph' or its descendant, 'Ruff and Honours' (an ancestor of modern Whist and Bridge). In these games, one suit was designated as the "trump" suit for a given hand. Any card from this chosen suit, regardless of its face value, possessed the power to "triumph" over, or beat, any card from any other suit. Holding a card from this special suit, especially a high one, was a potent advantage, a guaranteed win against non-trump cards. This powerful, game-changing card, capable of overriding all others, naturally became known as the "trump card," and its decisive power soon made the leap from the card table into everyday language to describe any critical advantage or secret weapon.
Examples
- She kept her extensive network of contacts as her trump card, only revealing it when the negotiation reached a stalemate.
- Knowing the CEO's personal interest in the project proved to be his trump card during the final presentation.