have the cards in one's hands

English

Verb

have the cards in one's hands (third-person singular simple present has the cards in one's hands, present participle having the cards in one's hands, simple past and past participle had the cards in one's hands)

1. To have the initiative for or the means of success, to be in a position to control the outcome.
   • 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], Act I:

     Gogs bloud Iacke, haue we the cards in our hands?
     Lets take it vpon vs while we haue it.