have a trick up one s sleeve

have a trick up (one's) sleeve
To have a secret plan, idea, or advantage that can be utilized if and when it is required. A reference to cheating at a card game by hiding a favorable card up one's sleeve.
I've got a few tricks up my sleeve if he decides to pursue legal action against me.
See also: have, sleeve, trick, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
have an ;ace/a ;trick up your ;sleeve (British English) (American English have an ;ace in the ;hole) (informal) have an idea or plan which you keep secret and can use if you need to (especially in order to gain an advantage over somebody): They think they’ve won the contract but we’ve still got a couple of aces up our sleeve.
See also: ace, an, have, sleeve, trick, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
See also:
have a card up your sleeve
have an ace up (one's) sleeve
have an ace up your sleeve
have got an ace up (one's) sleeve
have something up your sleeve
have/keep something up your sleeve
trick up (one's) sleeve
up one's sleeve, to have something
up sleeve
up your sleeve

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Berle’s father hadn’t been much of a provider, so his mother saw something in young Milton that maybe others didn’t see: a meal ticket for her family. Sarah Berle—she actually took his fake name—left her husband back at home with the other kids, and took young Milton on the road from Vaudeville show to Vaudeville show. Sarah, however, didn’t stop at just promoting her son—she had some tricks up her sleeve that would make him a star.
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