upper

*upper hand (on someone)

Fig. a position superior to someone; the advantage of someone. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) John is always trying to get the upper hand on someone. He never ends up having the upper hand, though.

See also: hand

Keep a stiff upper lip.

Prov. Act as though you are not upset.; Do not let unpleasant things upset you. (English people are stereotypically supposed to be very good at keeping a stiff upper lip.) Even though he was only three years old, Jonathan kept a stiff upper lip the whole time he was in the hospital recovering from his surgery. Jill: Sometimes this job frustrates me so much I could just break down in tears. Jane: Keep a stiff upper lip. Things are bound to improve.

See also: keep, lip, stiff

top story and upper story

Sl. the brain; one's mind and intellect. A little weak in the upper story, but other than that, a great guy. He has nothing for a top story.

See also: story, top

upper crust

Fig. the higher levels of society; the upper class. (From the top, as opposed to the bottom, crust of a pie.) Jane speaks like that because she pretends to be from the upper crust, but her father was a miner. James is from the upper crust, but he is penniless.

See also: crust

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a stiff upper lip

an ability to stay calm and not show feelings of sadness or fear You weren't allowed to show emotion in those days. You had to keep a stiff upper lip at all times. I never once saw my father cry or show any sign of vulnerability - it's that old British stiff upper lip.

See also: lip, stiff

be (down) on your uppers  (British old-fashioned)

to be in a very bad financial situation Hungary's once successful film industry is on its uppers. He was always ready to help anyone who was down on their uppers.

have the upper hand

if someone has the upper hand, they have a position of power and control over someone else, and if an emotion has the upper hand, it controls what you do At half time, the Italian team seem to have the upper hand.

See also: hand, have

the upper crust

people who have the highest social position and who are usually rich Many treasures were brought back to Britain because its upper crust was wealthy and liked travelling abroad.

See also: crust

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have the upper hand

to have power and control over someone or a situation By half time, the Italian soccer team seemed to have the upper hand.

Usage notes: also used with get and gain: There is always worry over who will get the upper hand in the oil markets. Fire fighters from more than six states finally gained the upper hand on the forest fire.

See also: hand, have