After winning the debate, she had the upper hand and controlled the conversation.
word origin — From medieval physical combat — the wrestler whose hand was on top during a grip controlled the entire match.
have the upper hand, fall through the cracks, turn the tables, have second thoughts, know the ropes: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 71. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.