English-grammar-lessons.co.uk

menu

Trick up One's Sleeve

What Does "Trick up One's Sleeve" Mean?

homeidiomsTrick up One's Sleeve
"Trick up one's sleeve" is an English idiom. It means "a secret or hidden plan, strategy, or advantage that is kept in reserve and can be used when needed."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "trick up one's sleeve" used in a sentence:
  • He always had a trick up his sleeve during negotiations, which allowed him to secure favourable deals.
  • In competitive sports, having a trick up one's sleeve can be a game-changing advantage when facing tough opponents.
  • The CEO had a trick up her sleeve for the company's expansion, which she revealed at the strategic planning meeting.
meaning for trick up one's sleeve

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Trick up One's Sleeve" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "trick up one's sleeve" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
gold cup
Gold

gold cup
Silver

gold cup
Bronze

  • This test has questions.
  • A correct answer is worth 5 points.
  • You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
  • Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
  • Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
  • 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System

Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Help Us To Improve English Grammar Lessons
  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.
Do you know your English idioms? idioms test

Take Our Test.

search icon

Search our idioms database. (We have 10,000+ idioms!)