Fig.: to be in a dominating or controlling position

After his Oscar win, he was the most in-demand actor at the time, holding the whip hand in negotiating and getting top-notch contracts

Dopo aver vinto l'Oscar, era l'attore più richiesto del momento e aveva il coltello dalla parte del manico per negoziare e ottenere contratti eccellenti

It'is true that we are among the suspects, but we have the upper hand because we have a rock-solid alibi

È vero che siamo tra i sospettati, ma abbiamo il coltello dalla parte del manico perché abbiamo un alibi a prova di bomba

The real estate speculators have always opposed our plan for a city park, but now that we've exposed their fraud and bribery, we hold the upper hand and they can't stop us

Gli speculatori edilizi hanno sempre boicottato il nostro piano per un parco cittadino, ma ora che abbiamo scoperto i loro altarini di imbrogli e mazzette, abbiamo il coltello dalla parte del manico e non ci possono più fermare

Although the origin of this expression is still doubtful, it is widely accepted that American kids first used it when playing sandlot baseball. In order to determine which team would bat first, one player would grasp the baseball bat at the lower end. A player from the opposing team would then place his hand directly above the first player's hand. They would alternate hands up the bat until the end was reached and one of the players had the "upper hand"