持もち駒ごま

noun

captured piece (shogi)

In shogi, a piece taken from the opponent that can be placed back on the board as one's own.

• 持もち駒ごまの歩ふを打うって王おう手てをかけた。

  I dropped a captured pawn and put the king in check.

noun

reserve; asset held in reserve

Figurative use: a person, object, or resource kept ready for future use, like a shogi piece in hand.

• 彼かれは会かい社しゃの持もち駒ごまとして、いつでも重じゅう要ようなポストに就つける人じん材ざいだ。

  He is a reserve asset for the company, someone who can be placed in an important position at any time.

• このデータは交こう渉しょうの持もち駒ごまになる。

  This data will be a bargaining chip in the negotiations.