the upper hand

niskalenkki puhekieltä advantage Advantage or control.
1855, w:Washington Irving|Washington Irving, "Guests from Gibbet Island":

There was no refusing him, for he had got the complete upper hand of the community, and the peaceful burghers all stood in awe of him.

Curiosity began to get the upper hand, and I determined I should have one look through the cabin window.

There it was Razumov who had the upper hand, in a composed sense of his own superiority.

And because they live everywhere and reproduce quickly, bacteria have the upper hand.