get ahead

British  

verb

1. to be successful; prosper

2. (foll by of) to surpass or excel

---

get ahead Idioms  

1. Succeed or make progress, especially in one's career or in society. For example, She put in many hours of overtime in order to get ahead . [c. 1800]

2. Save a little money, as in After we settle the hospital bill, we hope to get ahead enough to buy a new car .

3. get ahead of . Move in front of, as in I got ahead of her in line .

4. get ahead of . Outdo, surpass, as in We were determined to get ahead of the competition . Also see ahead of the game .

---

Example Sentences

Saving for a four-year degree once felt like the obvious way to help a child get ahead.

From The Wall Street Journal

“This slows economic growth, hurts communities and prevents many people from getting ahead.”

From MarketWatch

“It’s mostly a Sunridge crowd, so we can get ahead on the social scene if you come with me. I can introduce you to all the VIPs.”

From Literature

The company apparently got ahead of demand for its brand in an effort to cater to investors’ growth mindsets, Moran said.

From Los Angeles Times

"I wanted to get ahead of it," he added.

From BBC