This
database is a comprehensive collection of all the American idioms and slang available.
American Idioms are many and varied. We hope you enjoy our collection. We are adding more all the time.
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be dealt a bad hand/deal someone a bad hand What does be dealt a bad hand/deal someone a bad hand mean?
receive or give someone bad cards in a card game, receive disadvantages in something
receive or give someone bad cards in a card game, receive disadvantages in something The boy was dealt a bad hand when he was a child and always was at a disadvantage in his life.
If you are wondering who has the upper hand in your relationship, the next time you get up to fetch drinks, take a look on the sofa. There you will find that person. This phrase originated with the advent of 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".