get the whip hand

get the whip hand

To acquire the most power or influence in a particular situation or setting. As the editor in chief, I've got the whip hand and give final approval for the layout of every issue—remember that.See also: get, hand, whip

get, have, hold, etc. the ˈwhip hand (over somebody)

have power or control (over somebody): The government knows that the army have the whip hand. ♢ Our opponents had the whip hand over us right from the beginning.See also: hand, whip