steal a march

idiomatic intransitive

(intransitive, idiomatic) To gain an advantage unobserved. / (intransitive, idiomatic) To start early.

Japanese Meaning

先手を打って有利な状況を作る / 他者に気づかれずに早めに始める、先んじる

By arriving at dawn, she hoped to steal a march on the other bidders.

夜明けに到着することで、彼女はほかの入札者に知られずに優位に立とうと考えた。

Sense（1）

(intransitive, idiomatic) To gain an advantage unobserved.

Fifty thousand men cannot easily steal a march over the sea.

Sense（2）

(intransitive, idiomatic) To start early.

They stole a march by taking non-merchandise inventory on January 2.

steals a march

（ present singular third-person ）

stealing a march

（ participle present ）

stole a march

（ past ）

stolen a march

（ participle past ）