to leapfrog ahead
1
7.1
- phrasal verb
- /ˈliːpfrɔɡ əˈhɛd/
Examples
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Now it's planning to leapfrog ahead with the Moon mission by producing the Apollo command module.
Blog text (14) -
But I'm gonna leapfrog ahead and meet you guys at Record Breaker.
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To gain a competitive edge, the startup managed to leapfrog ahead of established companies by introducing groundbreaking technology.
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The new electric vehicle model has leapfrogged ahead of traditional cars in efficiency and performance, attracting a lot of attention from consumers.
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By investing in innovative practices, the small firm was able to leapfrog ahead of its larger competitors in the market.
Synonyms
109
3.4
Do better than others, for example at work or school
90
2.1
To rise suddenly by a large amount
13
3.4
To move into a leading position in a race or competition
12
6.8
To become faster, better, or larger than another
11
6.8
To act before others to get an advantage
1
5.9
To get ahead of others in progress or achievement
1
7.3
To pass other companies quickly by using new technology
1
4.5
Do much better than other companies or teams
How Far
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'leapfrog' (to make rapid progress or overtake by skipping stages) with 'ahead' (in a leading position); together they clearly indicate overtaking competitors to take the lead. This compositional pattern is literal and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Leapfrog ahead comes from the children's game leapfrog, where one player jumps over another's back to move ahead. So to leapfrog ahead means to 'overtake' others quickly or make a sudden big gain.