leg up

noun

1

: a helping hand : boost

2

: head start

Synonyms of leg up

• assistance
• assist
• support
• help
• boost
• aid

Examples of leg up in a Sentence

a key endorsement that would give the struggling candidate a real leg up right now

Recent Examples on the Web

Neither the Indiana nor the Arlington Heights plans are guaranteed, but Indiana officials tried to portray this week’s moves as giving them the leg up in wooing the charter NFL franchise east. —Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026

Now a new company wants to make the homeownership journey a workplace benefit, helping employers with recruitment and retention, and workers with a leg up the ladder. —Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026

Lander and Goldman’s beef aside, a new shape for the 11th District could give Democrats an incremental leg up in the nationwide redistricting fight as the midterms approach with control of Congress up for grabs. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026

Over 500 institutions still give you a leg up if your mom or dad went there. —Jonathan Zimmerman, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for leg up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup