ace in the hole
1. 备用的应急手段(或办法); 秘藏的王牌
A good negotiator always has more than one ace in the hole.
谈判高手总有数张王牌在手。
His strength in a crisis is an ace in the hole.
临危不惧是他的看家本领。
within an ace of
1. 差一点
He came within an ace of death.
他几乎送了命。
习惯用语an ace in the hole1.■应急的法宝, 备用的有效办法2.■在患难中可以依靠的朋友bate an ace1.■稍稍降低要求, 让一手hold [have] the aces1.■[口]手中握有王牌, 有制胜的法宝keep [have] an ace up one's sleeve1.■获有最重要的情报, 手中留有王牌; 有应急的妙计not an ace1.■毫无the ace of aces1.■特级“王牌”飞行员; 能手中的能手the ace of trumps1.■王牌; 最有力的根据within an ace of ...1.■差点, 几乎, 险些儿ace in1.■[美俚]惹人注目; 讨人喜欢