# ace in the hole

idiom · CEFR B2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/ace-in-the-hole
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Synonym of ace up one's sleeve.

## Examples

- He kept his ace in the hole until the final round.
- My secret recipe is my ace in the hole for the cooking contest.
- She saved her best argument as an ace in the hole for the negotiation.
- The lawyer knew the video footage was his ace in the hole if the witness lied during the trial.
- The company has a massive cash reserve that serves as an ace in the hole during a bad economy.
- The coach had an ace in the hole — a rookie pitcher no scout had seen — and unleashed him in the ninth inning to silence the stunned crowd.

## Origin

"Ace in the hole" originates from 19th-century American stud poker. It refers to the hole card — the first card dealt face-down and kept hidden from opponents. Because the ace is the highest-value card, having an ace face-down gives a player a secret, powerful advantage. By the 1920s, the term had expanded from the casino to become a common idiom for any hidden advantage, resource, or surprise strategy kept in reserve and used to gain the upper hand when needed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.