TO HAVE (HOLD, or GET) THE UPPER-HAND (FORTUNE, or WHIP-HAND), verb. phr. (old colloquial).—To have (hold or get) at one’s command, in one’s power, lead, or under control; to have the day as one’s own; to have full play or advantage.
1525. TYNDALE, New Testament [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 413. Orrmin’s oferrhannd. now becomes THE UPPER HANDE].
1613. FLETCHER, The Honest Man’s Fortune, i. 2. You HAVE THE UPPER FORTUNE of him.
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 106. He challenged them to drink, and in every respect TOOK THE UPPER HAND.
1857–61. BUCKLE, History of Civilization in England, II. iii. Scarcely had the nobles thus attained THE UPPER HAND, when they began to quarrel among themselves.
1886. R. L. STEVENSON, Kidnapped, 175. I was growing impatient to get back and have THE UPPER HAND of my uncle.
