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Glite Dictionary
to get the jump

to get the jump

9 6.8
To act before others to get an advantage
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : tomar la delantera
  • To win the competition, you need to get the jump on everyone else.
  • try to get the jump
  • just got the jump

So we're all kitted up and the first group goes, they get the jump.

Examples

Synonyms

to get ahead
vsto get the jump
83 3.4

Do better than others, for example at work or school

is first to act to gain advantage rather than gradual advancement
to jump on
vsto get the jump
23 4.3

To use an opportunity quickly

is first to act to gain advantage, not only a rapid response
to take the initiative
vsto get the jump
22 3.8

To be the first to act to make something happen

is first to act mainly to gain an advantage rather than just starting
to pull ahead
vsto get the jump
9 3.4

To move into a leading position in a race or competition

is being first to act for advantage, not simply taking the lead later
to get one up on
vsto get the jump
  • Informal
1 6.1

To have an advantage over someone in competition

is about acting first to gain advantage rather than only beating someone
to bounce on
vsto get the jump
  • Informal
7.2

Act quickly to take an opportunity before others do

is about being first overall, not only eager quick seizing
to leapfrog ahead
vsto get the jump
7.1

To suddenly move ahead of competitors by making a big improvement

is first to act for advantage, not necessarily by a sudden big leap
to leapfrog competitor
vsto get the jump
7.3

To pass other companies quickly by using new technology

is first to act to gain advantage, not only by sudden overtaking

Antonyms

to fall behind
70 2.8

To not keep up with others or a schedule

to miss an opportunity
14 2.8

Fail to use a chance to do something you want

How Early

head start
82 2.5
to get the jump
  • Informal
9 6.8

Surface Forms

get the jump infinitive
getting the jump present participle
gets the jump third person singular
got the jump past
got the jump past participle

Morphology

get + the + jump

There is a detectable link between 'get' (obtain) and 'jump' (a sudden lead), so a learner might infer the idea of 'getting a lead', but the specific sense and the fixed collocation 'get the jump (on someone)' is conventional and not an obvious, everyday meaning of 'jump'. Because the noun sense 'jump' = 'advantage/head start' is relatively metonymic and the phrase behaves idiomatically, a B1 learner who simply knows the parts would not reliably predict the meaning without exposure.

Etymology

Get the jump may come from hunting: if a hunter 'gets the jump' on an animal, they surprise it by acting before it can move. That's why the phrase now means 'to be first to act' or 'to gain an advantage'.