head start

or headstart

noun

1. an advantage given or acquired in any competition, endeavor, etc., as allowing one or more competitors in a race to start before the others.

head start

noun

1. an initial advantage in a competitive situation

Word History and Origins

Origin of head start¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Word History and Origins

Origin of head start¹

originally referring to a horse's having its head in front of others at the start of a race

Idioms and Phrases

An early start that confers an advantage, as in This year we'll get a head start on the competition by running more ads . The expression comes from racing, where it was used for a horse being given an advantage of several lengths over the others. Its extension to other areas dates from the early 1900s.