trump

trump¹ [trʌmp] n

1.) trumps [plural] also trump

AmE the ↑suit (=one of the four types of cards in a set) chosen to have a higher value than the other suits in a particular card game

▪ Hearts are trumps.

2.) also trump card

a card from the ↑suit that has been chosen to have a higher value than the other suits in a particular game

3.) trump card

something that you can do or use in a situation, which gives you an advantage

▪ But then he decided to play his trump card (=use his advantage) .

▪ They hold all the trump cards (=have things which could give them an advantage) .

4.) come/turn up trumps

to provide what is needed, especially unexpectedly and at the last moment

▪ Paul came up trumps and managed to borrow a car for us.

trump ²

trump² v [T]

1.) to play a trump that beats someone else's card in a game

2.) to do better than someone else in a situation when people are competing with each other

▪ By wearing a simple but stunning dress, she had trumped them all.

trump up [trump sth<=>up] phr v

to use false information to make someone seem guilty of doing something wrong

▪ They had trumped the whole thing up to get rid of him.

>trumped-up adj

▪ Dissidents were routinely arrested on trumped-up charges .