Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. Sports A racing start in which the contestants are already in full motion when they cross the starting line.
- n. A quick or auspicious beginning.
Wiktionary
- n. idiomatic An especially good start.
- n. The start of a sports event in which the competitors are moving when they pass the starting line or initial jump point.
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. a start in a sailing race in which the signal is given while the vessels are under way.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a quick and auspicious beginning
- n. a racing start in which the contestants are already in full motion when they pass the starting line
Etymologies
- From sailboat races, where the ships should be 'flying' under full sail as they cross the starting line. (Wiktionary)
Examples
““You were off to a flying start on the Rajk trial,”* came a telegram from his AP bosses on October 1, 1949.”
“It was nine blocks to the house of Marjorie Jones; but Penrod did it in less than seven minutes from a flying start -- such was his haste to lay himself and his hand for the cotillon at the feet of one who had so recently spoken unamiably of him in public.”
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