get the upper hand

Idioms and Phrases

see upper hand .

Example Sentences

Favorable weather conditions helped thousands of firefighters get the upper hand Saturday on the devastating Mountain fire that has scorched some 20,000 acres, destroyed more than 130 homes and damaged nearly 90 others — while upending the lives of Ventura County residents.

From Los Angeles Times

But superstonkers are undeterred: When the promised surge fails to materialize, they inevitably find some way to rationalize it—usually it’s evidence that their detractors on Wall Street are far more powerful than they’d ever guessed, and that they’ll just have to wait a week or two more to finally get the upper hand.

From Slate

That was shattered on 7 October, and Israel is trying to get the upper hand.

From BBC

Their first on-field interaction might have been awkward, and perhaps in the next meeting between their teams, Williams will get the upper hand.

From Los Angeles Times

Defenders certainly couldn’t get the upper hand on Alt much over the past three seasons.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• conquer
• crush
• extinguish
• humble
• overcome
• overpower
• quell
• repress
• restrain
• suppress
• tame
• temper