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Glite Dictionary
to jockey for position

to jockey for position

4 7.1
Try to move into a better place than others before an important decision or event
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈdʒɑːki fɔr pəˈzɪʃən/
translation icon : luchar por una posición
  • As the race began, the cyclists started jockeying for position to gain an early advantage.

And so you've got all these figures kind of jockeying for position.

Examples

  • Producers of sensors and other components, eager to get a foothold in the potential market, have been jockeying for position with suppliers of automotive system modules.

    Academic text (2005)

  • President Obama and Mitt Romney are jockeying for position in what is expected to be a very tight general election.

    Blog text (14)

  • The players are jockeying for position.

    Stuart Little (1999)

  • We'll keep an eye on him while the rest of the track is jockeying for position.

    Speedway (1968)

  • Riders now jockeying for position as they come through.

    A-X-L (2018)

  • Often the competition is close, with several vendors jockeying for the lead position.

    Academic text (1994)

  • "Everyone is jockeying for their position for the NCAA Tournament, so I expect them to play well."

    Blog text (22)

  • Drivers jockeying for position as we head full-throttle down the main straight and into turn one.

    F1 (2025)

  • In a start unique to hydroplane racing, the clock starts to wind down as the drivers jockey for position.

    Madison (2005)

  • At the door, a pair of photographers and a newsreel cameraman are jockeying for position.

    Fiction book (2001)

Synonyms

to compete
vsto jockey for position
983 2.6

Try to win against others who want the same thing

is more about tactical repositioning for advantage before a decision or event
to get ahead
vsto jockey for position
83 3.4

Do better than others, for example at work or school

is about tactical repositioning immediately before a decision or event
to jockey
vsto jockey for position
12 6.8

To try to gain an advantage over others by clever moves

focuses on moving into a better place before a decision
to get the jump
vsto jockey for position
  • Informal
9 6.8

To act before others to get an advantage

focuses instead on moving into a better place before the decision
to manoeuver
vsto jockey for position
5.8

To move something or someone carefully to get a better position

adds competition and timing, focusing on gaining position before a decision

Antonyms

to relinquish
  • Formal
69 7.2

To give up control, a right, or something you own

to concede
49 4.9

To accept that you have lost a contest or election

How Strategic

to scheme
14 6.5
to jockey for position
4 7.1
maneuver
  • US
108 6.3
to compete
983 2.6

Surface Forms

jockey for position infinitive
jockeying for position present participle
jockeys for position third person singular
jockeyed for position past
jockeyed for position past participle

Morphology

jockey + for + position

The phrase's meaning is directly built from the constituents: 'jockey' (to maneuver or strive for advantage) combined with 'for position' (to gain a better place), so the overall sense of competing for advantage is compositionally obvious. The underlying metaphor (from horse-racing) does not obscure the relation, and similar constructions exist cross-linguistically, making it predictable for a learner who knows the component words.

Etymology

Jockey for position comes from horse racing. A jockey is a rider who guides a horse to get a better position in the race, often by steering or pushing to find a good place on the track. So, when people 'jockey for position' today, they try to move or act to get an advantage or a better place.