keep (something) up (one's) sleeve
keep (something) up (one's) sleeve
To keep something, such as a plan or advantage, in secret so it 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. What the other runners don't know is that I've kept an ace up my sleeve for this race—my stamina. I've been keeping a few tricks up my sleeve if he decides to pursue legal action against me.
See also: keep, sleeve, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
have/keep something up your ˈsleeve
(informal) have a good idea, plan or piece of information which you are not telling anyone about now, but which you intend to use later: John was smiling to himself all through the meeting; I’m sure he’s got something up his sleeve.See also: have, keep, sleeve, something, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- card up one's sleeve
- have (something) up (one's) sleeve
- have a card up (one's) sleeve
- have a card up your sleeve
- have a trick up (one's) sleeve
- have an ace up (one's) sleeve
- have an ace up one’s sleeve
- have up sleeve
- have/keep something up your sleeve
- trick up (one's) sleeve