# flying start

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/flying-start
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An especially good start.

## Examples

- The new project got off to a flying start this week.
- Our morning meeting gives the whole department a flying start.
- The new restaurant enjoys a flying start with many happy customers.
- Because she studied the material all summer, she got off to a flying start in her advanced math class.
- The team made a flying start by scoring two goals in the first ten minutes of the match.
- You can get off to a flying start if you prepare your tools the night before.
- The new manager got off to a flying start by solving the office's biggest scheduling problem during her very first afternoon on the job.
- With a record-breaking first quarter and strong investor support, the startup secured a flying start that positioned it well ahead of its established competitors.

## Origin

The term originates from the technical requirements of sailboat racing, describing the specific moment a vessel crosses the starting line under full sail. To achieve a flying start, a ship must be moving at significant speed—or "flying"—at the precise instant the competition begins, rather than accelerating from a stationary position.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.