leg up

noun

1
: a helping hand : boost
2

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Analysis tools are important for navigating the complexities of modern business and getting a leg up on the competition. K.h. Koehler, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025 Lift the free-standing leg up to about 90 degrees and continue standing on your balancing leg. Jakob Roze, Health, 4 Nov. 2025 Is being able to write a short story to option for yourself a leg up? Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025 During those post-pandemic years, government support for workers gave lower-income Americans a leg up. David Goldman, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leg up

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of leg up was in 1871

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Cite this Entry

“Leg up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leg%20up. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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