Example: She seems to hold all the cards in the negotiation.
Definition
"To hold all the cards" means to have all the advantage or power in a situation, especially in negotiations or competitions, allowing one to control the outcome or make decisions favoring their interests.
Translations
tener todas las cartas
alle kaarten in handen hebben
totes les cartes a la mà
avoir toutes les cartes en main
alle Trümpfe in der Hand haben
Etymology
The phrase "to hold all the cards" originates from card games where having all the cards gives a player complete control over the game. It became a metaphor for having total advantage or control in various situations. Did you know? This expression emphasizes strategic superiority derived from possessing all necessary resources.
Learn to use this expression actively
"To hold all the cards" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 106 commonly used expressions.
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