The idiom "have an ace up one’s sleeve" means to have a secret plan or an advantage that is not known to others, which can be used to gain an advantage or to win a situation.
The phrase comes from the game of poker, where players hold cards close to their chest, and an ace is the highest-ranking card. If a player has an ace up their sleeve, they can use it to win the game unexpectedly.
You can use this idiom when you want to say that someone has a hidden advantage or a secret plan that they can use to win a situation. For example, if a company is struggling to compete with its rivals, but it has a new product that it has not yet launched, it can be said that the company has an ace up its sleeve. Similarly, if a person is going for a job interview and has a unique skill that they have not yet mentioned, they can be said to have an ace up their sleeve.
In short, "have an ace up one’s sleeve" means to have a secret plan or an advantage that can be used to win a situation unexpectedly.
• My friend has an ace up his sleeve for making the perfect cup of coffee.
• The company CEO always has an ace up his sleeve when it comes to securing new clients.
• The detective had an ace up his sleeve when he finally solved the case.
• She always has an ace up her sleeve when it comes to winning at board games.
• The master magician had an ace up his sleeve that left the audience in awe and wonder.
• The politician had an ace up his sleeve to win the election, but it was later revealed to be unethical.