one step ahead; a cut above; one up
Describes someone or something that is slightly superior in skill, quality, or strategy. Often used in competitive or comparative contexts.
See also: 上手 (うわて)
He is a cut above me.
That team was one step ahead in strategy.
上手 (うわて) can mean 'upper part', 'upstream', or 'superior skill', but 一枚上手 specifically emphasizes being one level or step above.
Standard kanji spelling.
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; less common but still encountered.
Compound of 一枚 (いちまい, 'one sheet' or 'one level') and 上手 (うわて, 'superior' or 'upper hand'), literally 'one level superior'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is conventionally associated with being a step above in skill or quality.