🗓️ Idiom: Get a Leg Up (verb)
💬 Meaning
- To get an advantage or head start over others.
- To receive help that improves your position or progress.
🧠 Example Sentences
- Her internship gave her a leg up when she applied for full-time roles at the same company.
- Networking at industry events can help you get a leg up in your career.
- Employees who take extra training often get a leg up on promotions.
🏛️ Origin
The phrase comes from the act of helping someone get on a horse by giving them a physical “leg up.” It eventually developed into a figurative meaning — helping someone to rise or gain an advantage in a situation, such as in their career. It has been used this way since the early 1800s.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
Extra language training can help you _______ a leg up when applying for international positions.
Answer
get
2. Multiple choice:
What does “get a leg up” mean?
a) To exercise your legs
b) To get an advantage or help
c) To climb stairs faster
Answer
b) To get an advantage or help
3. Change the sentence using “get a leg up”:
“She received support from her mentor, which helped her advance in her career.”
Answer
The support from her mentor gave her a leg up in her career.
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