Steal a march

Definitions

gain an advantage over someone
To secretly do something that gives you an advantage over others, especially in a competitive situation

Examples of Steal a march

Sarah had been preparing for the presentation all week, but her colleague Mark managed to steal a march by submitting his proposal a day earlier.

The phrase "steal a march" means to gain an advantage or surprise someone by doing something unexpected before they do. In this example, Mark was able to present his proposal a day earlier than Sarah, which gave him an advantage and allowed him to submit it before Sarah had a chance to do so. Sarah was caught off guard, as she had not expected Mark to submit his proposal before her. This idiom is commonly used in professional settings to describe situations where someone outmaneuvers or surprises their competition. Also, it highlights the importance of being proactive and staying ahead of the competition to maintain a competitive edge.
Sarah's team tried to steal a march on their opponents by practicing for an extra hour every day in the lead-up to the championship.

In this example, "steal a march" means to gain an unexpected advantage over one's opponents. Sarah's team prepared more than their opponents did, which gave them an advantage that their opponents were not anticipating.
Tom wanted to steal a march on his boss by submitting his report a day earlier than expected.

In this example, "steal a march" means to take action before others are expecting it, giving you an advantage. Tom wanted to surprise his boss by submitting his report early, which would give him more time to prepare for any feedback or discussions that would follow.
The startup company wanted to steal a march on their competitors by launching their product at a lower price.

In this example, "steal a march" means to gain an advantage by acting quickly or unexpectedly. The startup wanted to surprise their competitors by launching their product at a lower price, which would attract more customers and gain them a larger market share.
Emily noticed that her coworker, Lisa, was always the first to volunteer for tasks at work. She knew that Lisa was trying to steal a march on her by taking on more responsibilities, but she didn't let it deter her. Instead, Emily worked harder and more efficiently, which allowed her to catch up and eventually surpass Lisa in her job performance.

In this example, "steal a march" could mean either gaining an advantage or feeling threatened by someone else's actions. Emily saw that Lisa was trying to take on more responsibilities to gain an advantage, but Emily didn't let it discourage her. Instead, she focused on her own work, improving her skills, and eventually surpassed Lisa's performance.
Emily's team always seems to be ahead in their projects due to her habit of stealing a march on the competition. She makes sure to gather all necessary information and materials before her opponents even have a clue.

To "steal a march" means to gain an advantage by taking action quickly and unexpectedly, before the other person or group has a chance to respond. In this example, Emily's team is winning because she has been proactive in gathering information and supplies, which allows them to move forward more quickly than their competitors.
The sales team's strategy of stealing a march on the competition during the holiday season has been very successful for our company. By offering special promotions and discounts earlier than our competitors, we have been able to capture a larger share of the market.

When a company "steals a march" on their competitors during the holiday season, they are taking advantage of a prime shopping time to gain an edge in sales. By offering special promotions and discounts earlier than their competitors, they can capture a larger share of the market before their rivals have a chance to respond.
Last year, Anna surprised her coworkers by stealing a march and completing her project ahead of schedule. She spent weekends and evenings working on the project so that she could finish it early and present it to her boss before anyone else in the department had a chance to do the same.

In this example, Anna's use of weekends and evenings to complete her project ahead of schedule allowed her to gain a significant advantage over her coworkers. By presenting her completed project earlier than her coworkers, she was able to "steal a march" on them and stand out in her department.

Conclusion

"Steal a march" is an idiom that is used to describe gaining an advantage over someone by secretly doing something. It can be used in various situations, such as in sports, business, or personal relationships, where one person tries to outsmart or outmaneuver another. The intention behind using this idiom is to highlight the act of gaining an edge over someone through cunning or sly means.

The idiom can be used to caution against being caught off guard by someone who is trying to gain an advantage over you. It can also be used to describe a situation where someone successfully gains the upper hand in a competitive setting. Overall, "steal a march" is a vivid and expressive way to convey the idea of gaining an advantage through secretive or covert actions.

Origin of "Steal a march"

The origin of the idiom "steal a march" can be traced back to military tactics. In the context of warfare, "stealing a march" referred to gaining an advantage over the enemy by making a sudden and unexpected move. This could involve secretly marching troops to a strategic position or launching a surprise attack.

Over time, the idiom has evolved to be used in a more general sense, beyond just military tactics. It is now commonly used in everyday language to describe gaining an advantage over someone in various competitive or confrontational situations. The vivid imagery of "stealing a march" from the military context has made it a popular and enduring idiom in the English language.