ace up (one's) sleeve
ace up (one's) sleeve
A secret plan, idea, or advantage that can be utilized if and when it is required. A reference to cheating at a card game by hiding a favorable card up one's sleeve. My stamina is the ace up my sleeve for this race—the other runners don't stand a chance! The defense attorney waited for just the right time to play the ace up her sleeve—a new eye-witness.
See also: ace, sleeve, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- a card up (one's) sleeve
- card up one's sleeve
- have a card up (one's) sleeve
- have a trick up (one's) sleeve
- have an ace up (one's) sleeve
- have an ace/a trick up your sleeve
- have something up your sleeve
- have up sleeve
- have/keep something up your sleeve
- trick up (one's) sleeve