the upper hand
noun
: the position of having power or being in control in a particular situation
He always has to have the upper hand.
—sometimes used figurativelyThe infection was gaining the upper hand and the patient's condition was deteriorating.
Examples of the upper hand in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Baltimore has the upper hand, but the Steelers know anything can happen in this chaotic division.
—
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
But in a tiny percentage, patients and their families decide to fight the denials in federal court, setting up a David-versus-Goliath battle where insurers frequently have the upper hand.
—Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2024
Including the head-to-head victory for the Ravens over the Bills earlier this year, Jackson also has the upper hand over Allen in every major statistical category excluding rushing touchdowns.
—Tyler Small, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
Either way will lose him the upper hand against Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), and either way, Lady Mariko is prepared to die for the cause.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
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Dan Perry, Newsweek, 4 Jan. 2025
But in a tiny percentage, patients and their families decide to fight the denials in federal court, setting up a David-versus-Goliath battle where insurers frequently have the upper hand.
—Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 30 Dec. 2024
Including the head-to-head victory for the Ravens over the Bills earlier this year, Jackson also has the upper hand over Allen in every major statistical category excluding rushing touchdowns.
—Tyler Small, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024
Either way will lose him the upper hand against Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), and either way, Lady Mariko is prepared to die for the cause.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the upper hand
Dictionary Entries Near the upper hand
Cite this Entry
“The upper hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20upper%20hand. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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