Idioms

Question 1

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Synonyms: advantage, control, an edge
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Example Sentences:

1. The man has the ___ ___ with his wife. It is reflected in the way he speaks to her.
2. She wanted the ___ ___ in the business and hence went ahead to buy all the shares that she could find in the market.
3. The prime minister has the ___ ___ in decision making and not the parliament.
4. ## Her family’s wealth gave her an ___ ___ in life.

Origin: Years ago, boys played a game in which one boy would grab a stick at the bottom and every other boy would put his hand around the stick, one by one, all the way to the top. The last boy who put his hand at the top won the game.

Another explanation about the origin is from the way a couple holds hands. The one who has an ___ ___ is considered to be the dominant partner. The literary origin of the phrase comes from Thomas Macaulay’s work titled “History of England” which was published in the year 1848 but there is a record of it being used in a ballad in the 1600s called “Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard”.
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up_____ h______

Answer 1

THE UPPER HAND

Question:
“In an argument with a friend, who always seems to have the upper hand?”
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Meaning:
to have an advantage
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Question 2

Meaning
give ironical praise to someone
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* a compliment that raises eyebrows
* disapprove of something with a positive compliment
* ambiguous statement – one that can be taken as a compliment, but which might also be seen as an insult
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**Example Sentences
**1. The judges said they loved your performance, but this was a ____ ____ since they also highlighted all of your errors.
2. “Your dress looks amazing, it’s just too bad that it makes you look like you put on weight.”
3. “Your new haircut looks pretty, but it ages you.”
4. The husband said the food was tasty, which seemed like a ____ ____ since he ate only two spoonfuls.
5. To say she looked pretty was a ____ ____ seeing how her makeup was excessively done.
7. The teacher remarked that her essay was perfect despite many grammar mistakes – a ____ ____.
She told him that he looked much better than he usually did, which was a bit of a ____ ______.
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Origin
The phrase ____ ____ is an idiom which is synonymous with a left-handed compliment. It comes from the Latin word “sinistra,” which translates to sinister in English. In the past, being left-handed was considered unfortunate. It stood for being unlucky.

More etymology suggests shaking hands was primarily associated with the right hand. However, since the lefthanded’s left arm was the most effective, they could launch an attack hence deceitful.
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ba_______ co________

Answer 2

backhanded compliment
https://www.theidioms.com/backhanded-compliment/

Question 3

Answer 3

pay through the nose