get the drop on someone

get the drop on (someone or something)

To acquire an advantage over another person or entity; to catch someone or something in a vulnerable position or situation. The phrase refers to drawing a gun on someone first (thus causing them to "drop" their own gun). I think we'll get the drop on the defense if we run this play next. The police received an anonymous tip and got the drop on the would-be robbers when they entered the bank. Those thugs only beat me up because they got the drop on me—it wasn't a fair fight.

See also: drop, get, on

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

get the drop on someone

1. tv. to succeed in getting an advantage over someone. I got the drop on almost everybody by sending in my registration by mail.

2. tv. [for person A] to manage to get a gun aimed at person B before person B can aim back at person A. (The gun is then dropped by person B.) Rocko got the drop on Shorty in a flash.

See also: drop, get, on, someone

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.