gain the upper hand
• gain control over someone or something.
• "each strives to gain the upper hand in military might"
Similar:
an advantage,
a commanding position,
an/the edge,
the whip hand,
a lead,
a head start,
ascendancy,
superiority,
supremacy,
sway,
control,
predominance,
power,
mastery,
dominance,
command,
prepotence,
prepotency,
paramountcy,
prepollency,
have the upper hand
• have the advantage over someone or something.
• "he usually has the upper hand because he's older"
