ahead of the game

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to stay better prepared than others by anticipating future needs

Word picture

A well-prepared person is pictured already leading a game while the other players are still catching up.

Example

“By renewing its licenses early, the company stayed ahead of the game.”

Dictionary details

Component words

ahead game

Tags

success
work

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

streets ahead Informal · CEFR C1

much further advanced or clearly superior to the competition

the name of the game Informal · CEFR B1

the central, most important aspect of a situation

fair game Neutral · CEFR B2

a person or thing considered an acceptable target for pursuit or criticism

game changer Neutral · CEFR B2

a new development that fundamentally alters a situation or market

skin in the game Neutral · CEFR C1

personal risk or investment in a venture, aligning your interests with its outcome

blaze a trail Neutral · CEFR B2

to pioneer an approach that opens the way for later people

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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