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to steal a march on sb/sth
01
to act very fast in order to get advantage over someone
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What is the origin of the idiom "steal a march on someone or something" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "steal a march on someone or something" can be traced back to military terminology. It has its roots in military tactics and strategy, where gaining an unexpected advantage or getting ahead of an opponent is essential in warfare. Over time, the phrase has been extended to describe various situations where individuals, groups, or entities gain an advantage or outmaneuver others through clever, unexpected, or strategic actions, beyond just military contexts.
Example
The tech company's early investment in research and development allowed them to steal a march on innovation in the industry.
She studied diligently throughout the semester and was able to steal a march on her classmates when it came to the final exam.
By releasing their product a month ahead of the competition, the company managed to steal a march on their rivals in the market.
The organization's proactive response to the crisis helped them steal a march on disaster recovery and minimize the damage.
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