What is the meaning of the phrase 'an ace in the hole'?

Answer 1

The saying, 'to have a card up one's sleeve', derives from gambling with cards, where dishonest players would cheat by concealing certain cards somewhere on their person (often literally up the sleeve) to secretly switch into their hand to win a round.

The modern version does not necessarily mean the person is dishonest. It can mean that the person has a secret strategy in reserve, so that when they seem to be defeated, they will astound everyone by producing a winning solution.
A person would hide a card up his sleeve if he was playing Poker or performing card tricks. So, this term meant that you had a trick or a surprise that you were concealing.

Answer 2

This is a phrase that comes from the old wild west. back in the wild west Poker was a game played very regularly by cowboys.`and to 'have a ace up your sleeve' means your that you somehow won the poker hand when noboby thought you had an ace.... maybe by cheating.( ace being hidden up your sleeve and being the highest card in the deck.) so in todays day and age if u say "he has an ace up this sleeve" it means your talking about someone who should have lost something and ended up winning at the last minute. E.G. someone who scores the last goal in a football match seconds before full time
You have something that will give you an advantage that other people don't know about.

Answer 3

The expression means that you ("the person with the ace up his sleeve") have an advantage that might come as a surprise to others.

Answer 4

Having an ace up your sleeve means that you have a surprise or hidden weapon.

Answer 5

Having an ace in the hole means you have a good move or argument to use later at a strategic time in order to win.

Answer 6

It means you have more to give for example:

If you just pulled a joke on someone, you would say there is more up your sleeve, to say there will be more jokes coming his way.

Answer 7

An ace in the hole is a hidden or secret strength, an advantage of which your opponent is unaware.