hold (all/all of) the cards
idiom
: to be in control of a situation and have the power to make decisions
It's your decision. You're holding all the cards.
Examples of hold (all/all of) the cards in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Montana could hold all the cards for control of the Senate.
—
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 11 Nov. 2024
Family members hold the cards as the moon and Pluto clash.
—USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024
The Russians, who ultimately hold the cards, have held fast to Assad’s being part of the political process.
—Janine Di Giovanni, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2018
There was a hooded viewer to look through, and extended on a T-junction about 6 inches away was a stand with wire frames to hold the cards, which were called stereographs.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 17 Mar. 2024
House Democrats called on Gov. Eric Holcomb and their Republican colleagues, who hold all the cards, to keep the program intact and implement other transparency measures.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Feb. 2024
The durable version includes a handy clip to hold all the cards and clip them to a beach bag or backpack.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 21 Nov. 2023
But to Roxana Rivera, who leads SEIU 32BJ in Massachusetts, the ballot initiative focused on the right to organize is just another way to give drivers rights and standing to negotiate with massive companies that — as the gig-driver industry is currently structured — hold all the cards.
—Katie Johnston, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2023
Somehow your husband seems to hold all the cards here --both financially and emotionally.
—Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 11 Nov. 2024
Family members hold the cards as the moon and Pluto clash.
—USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024
The Russians, who ultimately hold the cards, have held fast to Assad’s being part of the political process.
—Janine Di Giovanni, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2018
There was a hooded viewer to look through, and extended on a T-junction about 6 inches away was a stand with wire frames to hold the cards, which were called stereographs.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 17 Mar. 2024
House Democrats called on Gov. Eric Holcomb and their Republican colleagues, who hold all the cards, to keep the program intact and implement other transparency measures.
—Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Feb. 2024
The durable version includes a handy clip to hold all the cards and clip them to a beach bag or backpack.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 21 Nov. 2023
But to Roxana Rivera, who leads SEIU 32BJ in Massachusetts, the ballot initiative focused on the right to organize is just another way to give drivers rights and standing to negotiate with massive companies that — as the gig-driver industry is currently structured — hold all the cards.
—Katie Johnston, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2023
Somehow your husband seems to hold all the cards here --both financially and emotionally.
—Haben Kelati, Washington Post, 1 Feb. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near hold (all/all of) the cards
Cite this Entry
“Hold (all/all of) the cards.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hold%20%28all%2Fall%20of%29%20the%20cards. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share