have the drop on

Verb

broadly informal transitive

(transitive, informal, by extension) To possess an advantage over another person, by acting before that person.

Japanese Meaning

相手に対して優位な立場を確保する、先に行動して有利な状況を得る / 先んじて行動して相手に勝る立場になる

オークションに早く到着したことで、マーティンは他の入札者に先んじて有利になり、その絵を手に入れた。

Sense（1）

(transitive, informal, by extension) To possess an advantage over another person, by acting before that person.

has the drop on

（ present singular third-person ）

having the drop on

（ participle present ）

had the drop on

（ participle past ）

had the drop on

（ past ）