
IdiomDaily Life
English
have a few tricks up one's sleeve
Meaning: To have secret plans or resources in reserve.
Example: “Don't count her out; she has a few tricks up her sleeve.”
Origin: Conjurers and card cheats hid objects in their sleeves. "Up one's sleeve" for something kept in reserve is found from the 16th century.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Avoir plus d'un tour dans son sac Literally: To have more than one trick in one's bag
More English idioms
- a Procrustean bed A rigid standard forced on everything, whatever the damage.
- a Sisyphean task An endless, futile task.
- jam tomorrow A promise of good things in the future that never arrive.
- have one foot in the grave To be close to death.
- the bee's knees Something or someone excellent.
- reinvent the wheel To waste effort creating something that already exists.
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