hold (all/all of) the cards
idiom
: to be in control of a situation and have the power to make decisions
It's your decision. You're holding all the cards.
Examples of hold (all/all of) the cards in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The draft espionage game is fun, but the Cleveland Browns, with the No. 2 pick, don’t hold all the cards.
—
Zac Jackson, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
With Schumer saying that Democrats are not ready to proceed, the Democrats hold the cards.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2025
That’s difficult, though, when the notorious big bad (Xander Berkeley) always seems to hold all the cards.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Montana could hold all the cards for control of the Senate.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 11 Nov. 2024
Family members hold the cards as the moon and Pluto clash.
—USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024
The Russians, who ultimately hold the cards, have held fast to Assad’s being part of the political process.
—Janine Di Giovanni, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2018
There was a hooded viewer to look through, and extended on a T-junction about 6 inches away was a stand with wire frames to hold the cards, which were called stereographs.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 17 Mar. 2024
House Democrats called on Gov. Eric Holcomb and their Republican colleagues, who hold all the cards, to keep the program intact and implement other transparency measures.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Feb. 2024
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Zac Jackson, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
With Schumer saying that Democrats are not ready to proceed, the Democrats hold the cards.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2025
That’s difficult, though, when the notorious big bad (Xander Berkeley) always seems to hold all the cards.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2024
Montana could hold all the cards for control of the Senate.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 11 Nov. 2024
Family members hold the cards as the moon and Pluto clash.
—USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024
The Russians, who ultimately hold the cards, have held fast to Assad’s being part of the political process.
—Janine Di Giovanni, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2018
There was a hooded viewer to look through, and extended on a T-junction about 6 inches away was a stand with wire frames to hold the cards, which were called stereographs.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 17 Mar. 2024
House Democrats called on Gov. Eric Holcomb and their Republican colleagues, who hold all the cards, to keep the program intact and implement other transparency measures.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Hold (all/all of) the cards.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20%28all%2Fall%20of%29%20the%20cards. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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