head start
noun, proper noun
Forms head starts
- noun (idiomatic) An advantage consisting in starting a competition or task earlier than might be expected; given (or taken), for example, prior to the beginning of a race. “Fred gave his younger brother a five-minute head start in the Easter egg hunt.”
- noun (idiomatic) A factor conducive to superiority and success. “His father's money gave him a head start in life.”
- proper noun (US) In the United States, a government-funded preschool program for impoverished children.
Synonyms
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “head start”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details