flying start: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral
Quick answer
What does “flying start” mean?
A very successful beginning to something, giving an immediate advantage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very successful beginning to something, giving an immediate advantage.
A situation where someone begins an activity with significant momentum, energy, or advantage, often due to preparation or favorable circumstances.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the term identically.
Connotations
Positive connotation of early success and advantage in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “flying start” in a Sentence
[Subject] got off to a flying start.[Subject] gave [Indirect Object] a flying start.It was a flying start for [Subject].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flying start” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The team's flying-start performance impressed everyone.
American English
- The company's flying-start quarter boosted investor confidence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe a successful launch of a product, project, or financial quarter.
Academic
Used to describe a student's strong initial performance in a course or research project.
Everyday
Used for sports, competitions, new hobbies, or personal projects.
Technical
Rare in highly technical contexts; more common in business and general discourse.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flying start”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flying start”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flying start”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He flying started the project' – incorrect).
- Using 'fly start' without the '-ing' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily a noun phrase (e.g., 'make a flying start'). The related verbal idea is expressed with phrases like 'get off to a flying start'.
It originates from sports like track cycling or motor racing, where a competitor begins a race already moving at speed, often assisted by a pacemaker or downhill slope, giving them an initial advantage.
They are very similar. A 'head start' often implies starting earlier than others. A 'flying start' emphasizes the speed, energy, or success at the very beginning, not necessarily an earlier start.
Rarely. It almost always has a positive connotation. For a negative beginning, use antonyms like 'false start', 'rocky start', or 'slow start'.
A very successful beginning to something, giving an immediate advantage.
Flying start is usually neutral in register.
Flying start: in British English it is pronounced /ˌflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈstɑːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌflaɪ.ɪŋ ˈstɑːrt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “get off on the right foot”
- “hit the ground running”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a plane taking off smoothly and quickly from the runway – that's a 'flying start' compared to a car that stalls at the traffic lights.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEGINNING IS A RACE (where an advantageous start is like starting a race already in motion).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'flying start' correctly?