upper hand

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And the Iranians will come into the talks thinking they have the upper hand.

From Slate • Apr. 8, 2026

Evloev was predicted to grapple with Murphy but it was not until the third round, with the Briton gaining the upper hand in the striking, that he attempted his first takedown.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

As this battle plays out, some experts say Anthropic would probably have an upper hand in court.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

He has gained the upper hand over Iran’s president and other top leaders, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

“Let’s just say they’re not very good husbands. Mom gives the wives proof, so they have the upper hand in the divorce.”

From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix