upper hand: meaning 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?
Listening exercises
Dictation #1
Accent: Australia
About the sentence
...I'm not saying it will be the easiest negotiation in the world, but...
The structure I'm not saying...but is a way of making a comment in a more indirect/polite way. This is especially useful when criticising someone or giving negative feedback. e.g. I'm not saying it was your fault, but you should have called the client to check first.
Dictation #2
Accent: England (RP)
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Dictation #3
Accent: North America
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Extra practice
Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:
- Can you give any examples of when you tried to gain the upper hand?
- What strategies can individuals or businesses use to gain the "upper hand" in negotiations, competitions, or conflicts?
- How does the idea of having or getting the upper hand impact relationships, whether personal or professional?
Photo by Alvin Mahmudov on Unsplash
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