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 figuratively

The 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

For the first time since the 1980s, shooters have regained the upper hand from netminders in determining outcomes at the NHL level. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

The teams on Tuesday went held a joint practice in El Segundo, with the Chargers reportedly holding the upper hand. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026

The government also appears to have had the upper hand on the sequence of the negotiations, with judicial reform coming first and institutions such as the National Electoral Council left until December. — Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

American pressure on weak governments in Iraq and Lebanon to disarm pro-Iranian militias could trigger additional conflict in which Iranian allies would hold the upper hand. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for the upper hand

• analysand
• misunderstand
• ampersand
• beforehand
• behindhand
• bottomland
• contraband
• countermand
• dixieland
• fairyland
• fatherland
• firebrand