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Meaning & use

trump card

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈtrʌmp kɑːd/
US/ˈtrʌmp kɑːrd/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablefigurative

    A hidden or saved advantage that you use at the key moment to win or settle a matter.

    Grammar: Takes an or the: play your trump card.

    Patterns

    • play a trump card
    • hold a trump card

    Her fluent French was the trump card that won her the job.

    The union kept its trump card until the final round of talks.

    He played his trump card and revealed the signed contract.

  2. nouncountable

    In card games, a card from the chosen suit that beats cards of the other suits.

    Grammar: Literal use in games like bridge or hearts.

    Patterns

    • play a trump card

    She won the trick with a low trump card.

    He saved his last trump card for the final hand.

    A trump card beats an ace of another suit.

Word forms

pluraltrump cards

Common combinations

play a trump card
He played his trump card at the last minute.
hold a trump card
The seller held a trump card, because no one else had the part.
have a trump card
We still have a trump card to use if talks fail.
secret trump card
Their secret trump card was a famous endorsement.
keep a trump card in reserve
She kept a trump card in reserve for the final pitch.

Synonyms and how they differ

ace in the hole
Ace in the hole is an idiom for a hidden advantage kept for emergency, and it stresses secrecy more than trump card.
secret weapon
Secret weapon suggests a person or tool nobody expects, while trump card is usually a fact or asset.
ace up your sleeve
Ace up your sleeve suggests a hidden, possibly sly advantage, and it is more informal than trump card.
advantage
Advantage is general and does not imply it was hidden for the right moment, as trump card does.

Opposites

weaknesshandicapdisadvantage

Word family

trump verb
to beat with a higher card, or to outdo
trump noun
a suit that outranks others in a card game
trumped adjective
beaten by a stronger move
card noun
a piece of stiff paper used in games

Commonly confused: trump card or ace in the hole?

trump card vs ace in the hole

The idiom ace in the hole is from poker, while trump card is from trick-taking games; they are used almost the same way.

Practice

The negotiators waited until the last minute to play their ___.

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