have an ace up one’s sleeve
have an ace up (one's) sleeve
To have 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. I have an ace up my sleeve for this race—my stamina. The other runners don't stand a chance! I hear that the defense attorney has an ace up her sleeve—a new eye-witness.
See also: ace, have, sleeve, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
have an ace up one’s sleeve
tv. to have something useful in reserve; to have a special trick available. (Have got can replace have.) I still have an ace up my sleeve that you don’t know about.
See also: ace, have, sleeve, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- a card up (one's) sleeve
- ace 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