get/have/gain a/the jump on

idiom

: to get or have an early advantage over (someone) by acting quickly or doing something first
The company came out with its software earlier than expected and got the jump on its competitors.

Examples of get/have/gain a/the jump on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Sports Kyle Larson hoping to get the jump on weather and rivals in the Daytona 500 Feb. 17, 2024 Even though the rain at Daytona was not heavy at times, there is no way cars at the 2.5-mile superspeedway can run because there is no tread on the tires, making racing a severe safety risk. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2024 While your tax returns aren't due until mid-April, Kentucky and federal officials will begin accepting them this month, allowing people to get a jump on the process — or just to get it out of the way. Rachel Smith, The Courier-Journal, 25 Jan. 2024 Parents eager to get a jump on the application spent hours -- in some cases, days -- trying to fill out the form. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 13 Feb. 2024 Parents eager to get a jump on the application spent hours — in some cases, days — trying to fill out the form. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2024 To get a jump on spring cleaning, check out the deals on this reusable spray mop, this electric spin scrubber, and this Bissell carpet cleaner that more than 30,000 shoppers bought last month alone. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2024 To get a jump on a flight to paradise, the airline is offering one-way fares from the U.S. starting at $99 and one-way fares from Bermuda starting at $199 until Jan 31. Emily Cappiello, Travel + Leisure, 24 Jan. 2024 Black Friday is when most people get a jump on holiday shopping. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 Those two films opened last weekend in order to get a jump on Thanksgiving week, which can be one of the most lucrative stretches of the year for moviegoing. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'get/have/gain a/the jump on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Get/have/gain a/the jump on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%2Fhave%2Fgain%20a%2Fthe%20jump%20on. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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