false start

¹

noun

1. Sports.,  a premature start by one or more of the contestants, as in a swimming or track event, necessitating calling the field back to start again.

2. a failure to begin an undertaking successfully.

false-start

²

[fawls-stahrt]

verb (used without object)

Sports.

1. to leave the starting line or position too early and thereby necessitate repeating the signal to begin a race.

Word History and Origins

Origin of false start¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Origin of false start²

First recorded in 1805–15

Idioms and Phrases

A wrong beginning, as in After several false starts she finally managed to write the first chapter. The term originated in racing, where it refers to beginning a race before the starting signal has been given. The expression was soon transferred to other kinds of failed beginning. [Early 1800s]

Example Sentences

Hunt was awarded the same time - under Asher-Smith's previous record of 22.18 - as Daryll Neita clocked 22.30 for third following her 100m final disqualification for a false start.

From BBC

Rising star Hunt, 23, also secured qualification by dominating the women's final in a personal best 11.02 after defending champion Daryll Neita was disqualified for a false start.

From BBC

"As of now, I have 17 outfield players. I hope we don't lose any more. If that happens and we get four new ones on deadline day like last year, another false start is possible."

From BBC

Saturday marked Johnson’s first full-padded practice at center, where he progressed in both pass and run protection but also struggled, missing stunts and committing a false start.

From Los Angeles Times

Healthy-seeming flowering on trees like Murphy’s could be a “false start” belying the plant’s sickness, Smith said.

From Los Angeles Times