This is an old saying which means to have a secret that can be used to benefit them. It comes from the game of poker. Having something up one's sleeve is in reference to those who cheat at poker,...
The saying, 'to have a card up one's sleeve', derives from gambling with cards, where dishonest players would cheat by concealing certain cards somewhere on their person (often literally up the...
This is a phrase that comes from the old wild west. back in the wild west Poker was a game played very regularly by cowboys.`and to 'have a ace up your sleeve' means your that you somehow won the...
A person would hide a card up his sleeve if he was playing poker or performing card tricks. So, this term meant that you had a trick or a surprise that you were concealing.