trump card
B2Mainly informal; common in general, political, business, and journalistic contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A decisive resource, fact, or argument held in reserve to ensure success or gain an advantage.
Any hidden or final advantage, often psychological, strategic, or persuasive, used to overcome opposition or win a situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Metaphorical extension from card games (where a trump card beats other suits). It implies a final, often surprising, move that secures victory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is essentially identical in meaning and register. Spelling remains 'trump card' in both.
Connotations
Equally positive, suggesting clever strategy or a crucial advantage.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British media/political commentary, but well-established in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to play one's trump cardto have/hold a trump card (up one's sleeve)to use X as a trump cardVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to hold/keep a trump card up one's sleeve”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe a key asset or strategy, e.g., 'Their new patent is their trump card in the negotiations.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing; appears in political science or game theory discussions.
Everyday
Common in discussions about arguments, games, or personal conflicts.
Technical
Core term in card games (Whist, Bridge, etc.), meaning a card of the suit that outranks all others.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - Not standard usage.
American English
- N/A - Not standard usage.
adverb
British English
- N/A - Not standard usage.
American English
- N/A - Not standard usage.
adjective
British English
- N/A - Not standard usage.
American English
- N/A - Not standard usage.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the game, my red card was the trump card.
- She saved her best idea as a trump card for the final meeting.
- The candidate's military service proved to be his trump card in the debate, winning over undecided voters.
- The prosecution's trump card, a surprise witness, completely undermined the defence's alibi.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a magician (a TRUMP-eter) pulling a winning CARD from his sleeve at the last moment to win the trick.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/ARGUMENT IS A CARD GAME; STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE IS A WINNING CARD.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of the components. Do not use '*козырь карта' or '*трамп карта'. Correct equivalent is 'козырь' (noun) or 'козырная карта' (less common).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (incorrect: 'He trump-carded his opponent.'). Using 'trump' alone when the full compound is needed for clarity.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'playing your trump card' typically imply?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it predates him by centuries. It comes from card games, specifically from 'triumph', an older word for the suit chosen to be superior in a round.
No. The verb is simply 'to trump' (e.g., 'His argument trumped all others'). 'Trump card' is a noun phrase.
They are near synonyms. 'Ace up one's sleeve' more strongly implies secrecy and deception. A 'trump card' can be a known but powerful asset.
This is a blend of idioms ('ace in the hole' and 'trump card'). It is understandable but non-standard. Stick with established phrases.