gain/get the upper hand

have the upper hand - if someone has the upper hand, they have a position of power and control over someone else, and if an emotion has the upper hand, it controls what you do.

Government troops are gradually gaining the upper hand over the rebel forces. (often + over)

I shouldn't have read the letter, but curiosity got the upper hand.

• dog-tired
• do head in
• do homework
• do justice to
• do justice to someone
• do justice to something
• do level best
• dollars-and-cents
• dollar signs in eyes
• dollar signs in someone's eyes
• dollars to donuts
• dollars to doughnuts
• Do me a favour!
• do me a favour
• domino effect
• do more harm than good
• done deal
• done dressed up like a dog's dinner
• done for
• done in
• done thing
• done up up like a dog's dinner
• Don Juan
• donkey's years
• donkey work