Meanings
plural aces in the hole
- USidiomaticinformalSynonym of ace up one's sleeve.
Our ace in the hole left our opponents stupefied; it isn't every day that an NBA star plays street basketball.
1 more example
You didn't think I'd risk losing the battle for Gotham's soul in a fistfight with you? No. You need an ace in the hole. Mine's Harvey.
2008 July 14, Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, The Dark Knight, spoken by The Joker (Heath Ledger), Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Comics, Legendary PicturesSynonyms: ace up one's sleeve
Synonyms & antonyms
nounSynonym of ace up one's sleeve.
Origin
From stud poker in which there is one unknown card called the hole card, referring to the optimum hole card being an ace.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
ace in the hole. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ace%20in%20the%20hole
“ace in the hole.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ace%20in%20the%20hole. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ace in the hole,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ace%20in%20the%20hole.
Source: ace in the hole on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.