Have something up your sleeve
Meaning
To have a secret plan, advantage, or resource that you are keeping hidden until the right moment.
Origin
Imagine the elaborate, voluminous sleeves fashionable during the medieval and Renaissance periods—perfect for concealment. Magicians would subtly tuck cards or small objects into their wide sleeves, only to "produce" them dramatically, astonishing their audiences. This same trickery was also employed by cardsharps and gamblers, who would hide aces or other crucial cards, ready to pull them out at a pivotal moment to cheat their way to victory. This visual act of unexpected revelation birthed the phrase, capturing the essence of having a secret advantage or plan poised for a surprise deployment.
Examples
- The seasoned negotiator always seemed to have a clever counter-offer up her sleeve, surprising her opponents.
- Don't worry about the presentation; I have a backup plan up my sleeve just in case the technology fails.