Idioms — Set 71

Set 71 of Idioms covers 5 idioms: have the upper hand, fall through the cracks, turn the tables, have second thoughts, know the ropes. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

1. have the upper hand · idiom/hæv ði ˈʌpɚr hænd/

   to be in a position of advantage or control

   After winning the debate, she had the upper hand and controlled the conversation.

   Origin: From medieval physical combat — the wrestler whose hand was on top during a grip controlled the entire match.

2. fall through the cracks · idiom/fɔl θru ðə kræks/

   to be overlooked or ignored by mistake

   His application must have fallen through the cracks because he never got a response.

   Origin: From flooring — small valuable objects accidentally fall between floorboard cracks and are essentially lost forever.

3. turn the tables · idiom/tɜrn ðə ˈteɪbəlz/

   to reverse a situation and gain the advantage

   They were losing badly in the first half, but they turned the tables and won the game.

   Origin: From the 1600s — in board games, turning the table physically swapped each player's pieces and positions instantly.

4. have second thoughts · idiom/hæv ˈsɛkənd θɔts/

   to reconsider a decision or change one’s mind

   I was excited about the job offer, but now I’m having second thoughts about moving.

   Origin: From the 1600s — refers to thinking carefully a second time about a decision already made, often with doubt.

5. know the ropes · idiom/noʊ ðə roʊps/

   to understand how things work in a particular situation

   Once you know the ropes, this job becomes much easier.

   Origin: From sailing — experienced sailors knew which ropes controlled which sails on a ship's complex rigging system.