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hold all the cards

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hold all the cards

to have what is needed to control a situation. He holds all the cards in our office — he even decides where the water coolers are located and what kinds of pencils we have.

Etymology: based on the idea of holding (= controlling) the most valuable cards in a card game

See also: all, card, hold

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? References in classic literature
You see that we hold all the cards, and we have only to fear some sudden act of violence on their part. Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan View in context More results

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hoist
hoist a few
hoist with own petard
hold
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hold good

Hold (baseball)

Hold (baseball; relief pitcher stat)

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hold a gun to head

hold a gun to head

hold a gun to head

hold a gun to head

hold a gun to head

hold a gun to head

hold a wolf by the ears

hold a wolf by the ears

hold a wolf by the ears

hold a wolf by the ears

hold a wolf by the ears

Hold Acknowledge

hold all the aces

hold all the cards

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Hold an Old Friend's Hand (album)

Hold an Old Friend's Hand (song)

Hold an Old Friend's Hand (Tiffany album)

Hold an Old Friend's Hand (Tiffany song)

Hold An Old Friends Hand

Hold an old friends hand (song)

Hold an old friends hand (Tiffany song)

Hold An Old Friends' Hand

Hold an old friends' hand (song)

Hold an old friends' hand (Tiffany song)

Hold And Modify

Hold And Modify (Amiga Graphics Mode)

Hold At Airborne

Hold At Airport for Pickup

hold at arm's length

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