ace in the hole
Meaning of the phrase:
-a hidden advantage or a secret plan that can be used to gain an advantage in a situation
· When it comes to romantic dates, my ace in the hole is my ability to make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. I'll whisk you away to Cheese Paradise, one bite at a time!
Origin of the phrase:
Picture this – a group of gamblers sitting around a table, each trying to keep their poker face while secretly hoping their opponents have worse cards than they do. It’s like a high-stakes game of “I bet you can’t guess what I’m thinking.” But then, one lucky player reveals their “ace in the hole.” And suddenly, it’s less about guessing and more about praying that lady luck is on your side.
Now, where did this phrase come from, you ask? Well, it turns out that it has been around since the Wild West days, when cowboys were known to gamble away everything from their cattle to their boots. In the game of stud poker, each player is dealt several face-up cards and one face-down card. The face-down card in stud poker is known as the ‘hole’ card, not to be confused with the hole in your sock, and is kept hidden from the other players.
A player’s hole card can greatly impact the strength of their hand. If the card happens to be an ace, it’s particularly valuable as it can be used to complete a high-ranking hand like a straight or a flush. So, if lady luck ever graces you with an ace as your hole card, don’t waste it like a tumbleweed in the wind. Hold onto it like your life depends on it, because in the wild, wild west of stud poker, it just might!
So, when did we start seeing this term in print? One of the earliest known references to the phrase ‘ace in the hole’ comes from an 1886 issue of The Mineral Argus, which reads:
Several of the boys got introduced to that festive game called ‘Stud’ and dropped their little rolls trying to guess that their opponent did not have an ace in the hole.
Here, the boys were trying to guess which of their opponents might have an ace in the hole, a hidden advantage that could give them an edge in the game.
The term “Ace in the hole” quickly gained popularity beyond the smoky saloons of the late 1800s. In fact, The Helena Independent featured the following bit in its June 23, 1893 edition:
Gov. Boies follows the example of Gov. Russel by refusing to run for a third term. Each looking for an ace in the hole in the deal of 1896, but together they would make a rattling team of winners.
And there it is, the story of “Ace in the hole” – a phrase that started at the poker tables in the late 1800s and now widely used in modern-day language. If you ever find yourself in a sticky situation, just remember the importance of keeping an ace up your sleeve (or in your hole, as it were). Just make sure to use your aces wisely!