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Glite Dictionary
to storm out of the blocks

to storm out of the blocks

8.0
To start something very quickly and with a lot of energy
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : salir disparado
  • The young sprinter stormed out of the blocks and quickly distanced himself from the rest of the field.

Examples

  • Our marketing team plans to storm out of the blocks with an aggressive new campaign in January.

  • Don't be surprised if they storm out of the blocks in the first quarter to set the tempo.

  • He stormed out of the blocks like a champion!

  • The runner storms out of the blocks every time.

  • The young sprinter stormed out of the blocks with incredible speed, winning the race by a large margin.

  • Our marketing team intends to storm out of the blocks with a bold new advertising strategy next quarter.

  • During the competition, the athlete stormed out of the blocks and took an early lead over his rivals.

Synonyms

to rush
vsto storm out of the blocks
548 1.0

To move or act quickly because a situation needs it

emphasizes a quick energetic start with less implied panic or urgent pressure
to erupt
vsto storm out of the blocks
123 4.2

To suddenly start in a strong or violent way, often showing strong feeling

is used for starting a race or activity energetically not mainly for events or emotions
to burst
vsto storm out of the blocks
115 1.9

Enter or appear suddenly with energy

is specific to starting a race or activity rather than general entry
to storm
vsto storm out of the blocks
70 4.4

To move quickly and angrily, showing anger

is about starting quickly and energetically without implying anger or aggression
to surge
vsto storm out of the blocks
57 4.1

To move suddenly and strongly forward or upward, like a wave

is a sudden powerful forward movement not necessarily the start of an individual activity
to bolt out
vsto storm out of the blocks
  • Informal
5 4.9

Leave a place suddenly and quickly because you feel scared

focuses on starting an activity quickly rather than abruptly leaving a place
to burst forth
vsto storm out of the blocks
5 5.4

Suddenly start to happen with a lot of energy

is about beginning a race or activity with quick energetic movement rather than mere emergence
to burst out
vsto storm out of the blocks
2 3.4

Start suddenly and appear or happen quickly

is about a fast energetic start rather than merely an unexpected appearance
to fly out of the blocks
vsto storm out of the blocks
6.7

Begin something very quickly and with a lot of energy

is virtually identical sharing the same quick energetic starting sense
to blaze out
vsto storm out of the blocks
7.3

To move out very quickly and brightly, like a flash of fire

focuses on a quick energetic start rather than being conspicuous or flashy

Antonyms

to lag
24 3.0

To move or develop more slowly than others

How Fast

to storm out of the blocks
  • Informal
8.0
to get going
422 2.3
to hesitate
318 2.5

Surface Forms

storm out of the blocks infinitive
stormed out of the blocks past
stormed out of the blocks past participle
storming out of the blocks present participle
storms out of the blocks third person singular

Morphology

storm + out + of + the + blocks

The components 'storm' (move forcefully) and 'out' (away) give a clear sense of a forceful, rapid departure, so a learner can partly infer an energetic start. However, 'out of the blocks' relies on the specific sports image of starting blocks (and 'storm out' normally implies angrily leaving), so the exact sporting sense requires prior exposure or knowledge of that collocation. This mix of compositional cues and metaphorical/sports-specific extension makes the expression only partially predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase storm out of the blocks comes from running races where runners start on small blocks and push off so hard they seem to storm forward. So it means 'to start very quickly or energetically'.