be ahead of the game
Meaning: To be in a better position than one's rivals.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “By ordering the parts early, we're ahead of the game.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: From gambling and sport, where being ahead means holding the lead. The phrase is common from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Spanish: llevar la delantera — literally: to carry the front part
More idioms — Daily Life
- there are no two ways about it — The matter admits no doubt or alternative.
- a dime a dozen — So common as to be worth very little.
- fire the starting gun — To signal the official start of something.
- come what may — Whatever happens.
- have plenty left in the tank — To still have energy or resources in reserve.
- willy-nilly — Whether one wants it or not; also, in a disorganized way.
More English idioms
- get out of hand — To become impossible to control.
- bang one's head against a brick wall — To keep trying something with no result.
- have a whale of a time — To enjoy oneself enormously.
- get off on the right foot — To make a good start.
- turn one's back on someone — To abandon or refuse to help someone.
- make oneself scarce — To leave quickly, or to keep out of the way.
From our proverbs
- A wilful man never wants woe. — Stubbornness breeds its own suffering—those who insist on their way invite the consequenc…
- Take the will for the deed. — Accept someone's sincere effort or intention as equivalent to successful completion when…
- They that cannot do as they will, must do as they can. — When circumstances limit your options, pragmatism requires accepting what's achievable ra…