Upper hand

Business English | B2

Examples and explanation

This is a very useful idiom for identifying who has the most power or control in certain situations, such as during meetings or negotiations.

If someone has the upper hand, then they are in a stronger or more powerful position than other people involved in the situation (see micro-dictation 2).

If someone gains the upper hand then something has happened which puts them in a stronger position than before (see micro-dictation 3).

When you want to talk about the reasons for someone being in a stronger position than others, you can talk about the things that give them the upper hand (see micro-dictation 1).

Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Accent: Australia