leg up
The phrase "leg up" originates from the literal act of helping someone climb by boosting them with one's leg and has evolved to mean any form of assistance or advantage.
Definition
B2General
(informal)Assistance or support that helps someone succeed or overcome a challenge.
Example
- Her mentor gave her a leg up in the industry.
- Receiving a scholarship provided a leg up for his education.
B2Competition
(informal, North American)An advantage over others in a competitive situation.
Example
- The new software gives them a leg up on their competitors.
- They are always looking for ways to get a leg up in the market.
B2Physical Assistance
(British, informal)The act of helping someone climb over an obstacle by lifting them.
Example
- He gave her a leg up over the fence.
- She needed a leg up to get on the horse.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "leg up":
get a leg upone upstep uplift upon the upupper handhop uphead upmove upjump upgee upride up onkick upjack upget it upbig uptrade upclimb upride upprop upup forget up inhopped uprun uphead starthike upplay upbump upgo upup a heightgun upperk uphot upfront uphem upstick upheads upgen upup the antesaddle upfight upget on upwedge upbutt uppull upscoot upwork one's way upgo up forsend upgive someone a handpull up onstep forwardsit upchin upboss uppitch uptalk upget upmuscle uphey upstand up withbull upget one's leg overhands upjump onbear upsit up withgeed upstiff upbuoy uppower upbrace upstay upstand upget ahead ofpush upon the right footamp upup the pole