upper hand
Advantage or control.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“She has the upper hand in the game now.”
“Because he prepared for the meeting so well, he had the upper hand during the negotiation.”
“The experienced diplomat gained the upper hand by anticipating the opposition's arguments and addressing them before they were even raised.”
From Middle English *over hond*, descending from the Old English *ofer-* and *hand*. While popular etymology frequently suggests an origin in card games or the hand-over-hand method of a counting-out game, the term is rooted in a more literal sense of superior control or a physically superior position.
- 01
back of one's hand
A display of disrespect or scorn.
- 02
bear a hand
To make haste; to help quickly.
- 03
big hand
Synonym of minute hand (on a clock face).
- 04
bite someone's hand off
To enthusiastically accept an offer.
- 05
bite the hand that feeds one
To cause harm to a benefactor (especially one that one is dependent on, thus with the idea that this behaviour is self-damaging).
- 06
cap in hand
In a humble and respectful manner.
- 07
cold hand
Used in reference to a player who fails to make successful shots in a game.
- 08
deal a bad hand
To assign unfavorable circumstances in life to someone.
Last updated August 10, 2026