ace up (one's) sleeve

(redirected from ace up his sleeve)

ace up (one's) sleeve

A secret plan, idea, or advantage that can be utilized if and when it is required. A reference to cheating at a card game by hiding a favorable card up one's sleeve. My stamina is the ace up my sleeve for this race—the other runners don't stand a chance! The defense attorney waited for just the right time to play the ace up her sleeve—a new eye-witness.
See also: ace, sleeve, up
References in periodicals archive ?
Thanks to his fearless and award-winning forays into indie films, Ignacio has another ace up his sleeve: He doesn't mind taking viewers way off the beaten narrative track, and veering away from mainstream cinema's exhausting penchant for implausible and awkwardly staged Happily Ever Afters.
When big meets bigger
Lomas believes he has an ace up his sleeve in on-loan Derby winger Lee Croft who scored in the 3-1 weekend win over Dunfermline.
Saints in Euro aim
When Shane, 41, ventured into a casino for his team's entry in the World Poker tournament, 46-year-old Liz was the ace up his sleeve. He said: "This is the first time Elizabeth has joined me in Vegas.
More news of the 'evil keeper' and the 'big blonde'.
Track conditions at Epsom will be different to those previously encountered by Dream Empress, but McPeek has an ace up his sleeve as he dreams of a bumper payday.
Epsom aim for Grade 1 winner Empress
But Matt Hales (aka Aqualung) has an ace up his sleeve. Even at his most ambitious, there remains an essential simplicity at the centre of his grand plan, a coneyor belt of uncluttered and accessible melodies.
play: AQUALUNG Memory Man (Epic)
Hoops coach Jozef Venglos is banking on pounds 300,000 bargain buy Lubo to be the ace up his sleeve against Rangers at Hampden on May 29.
Lubo up for the cup
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