Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
steal a march en · VERB
Pronunciation
Meanings
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(idiomatic, intransitive) To gain an advantage unobserved.
He enjoyed the idea of stealing a march on society, and seeing the sons he had left at such a disadvantage behind him, ruffling it, in spite of absurd law, with the foolish best.
1883, George MacDonald, chapter 67, in Donal Grant:You muſt knovv, ſhe yeſterday vvanted to ſteal a march of poor Liddy, and vvent to breakfaſt in the Room vvithout any other companion than her dog, in expectation of meeting vvith the Baronet, […]
1771, [Tobias Smollett], “To Sir Watkin Phillips, of Jesus College, Oxon.”, in The Expedition of Humphry Clinker […], volume I, London: […] W. Johnston, […]; and B. Collins, […], →OCLC, pages 127–128:Meanwhile, in 1887, the construction of a curve at Ancoats had given the Midland tortuous access to Manchester Victoria, and two years later it stole a march on the L.N.W.R. by announcing through carriages between London, Bolton, and Blackburn.
1960 March 14, Alan Rannie, “The Friendships of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 171:Fifty thousand men cannot easily steal a march over the sea.
1759 August 1, Horace Walpole, Letter to Sir Horace Mann, page 501:
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(idiomatic, intransitive) To start early.
In the morning he stole a march on the sun, for he had finished breakfast when its first rays caught him.
1905, Jack London, All Gold Canyon:They stole a march by taking non-merchandise inventory on January 2.
Forms
Relateds
head start · get the drop on