Have a good hand
Meaning
To possess a strong or advantageous set of cards in a game, or metaphorically, to be in a favourable position with many advantages or opportunities.
Origin
Imagine a dimly lit tavern in 18th-century London, the air thick with pipe smoke and tension. Around a worn wooden table, fortunes were made and lost with the flick of a wrist, the turn of a card. When the dealer finished distributing the pasteboards, a player would carefully fan out their collection, eyes scanning for combinations of power and promise. If luck, or perhaps skill, had graced them with high-ranking cards or a strategic sequence, they were said to "have a good hand"—a literal description of the winning cards they held. This vivid, tangible image of a winning collection quickly transcended the card table, becoming a potent metaphor for anyone possessing a strong advantage or fortunate circumstances in any walk of life.
Examples
- I knew I was going to win the poker game because I had a good hand right from the start.
- Despite the challenging market, she had a good hand with her innovative product and strong team, making success almost inevitable.