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to (pick up) the baton
01
to continue or complete a task or project that someone else began or left unfinished
![to [pick up] the baton definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/41558/original/?type=jpeg "to [pick up] the baton definition and meaning")
Idiom
What is the origin of the idiom "pick up the baton" and when to use it?
The idiom "pick up the baton" comes from relay races, where runners pass a baton to their teammate to continue the race. It is used to describe a situation where someone takes over a task or responsibility that was previously handled by someone else.
Examples
When Maria left, David picked up the baton and finished the project.
