Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

have-the-whip-hand

idiom

/hæv ðə wɪp hænd/

Definition

To have control or advantage over someone in a situation.

Examples

When negotiating the contract, she really had the whip hand because she was the only supplier in town.
He knew that he had the whip hand in the discussion after presenting all the necessary evidence.

Meaning

This phrase implies that one party has the power or leverage to dictate terms or make decisions in a particular context, often leaving someone else at a disadvantage.