# get ahead of oneself

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/get-ahead-of-oneself
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To focus excessively on one's plans or on prospective future events without paying adequate attention to the present.

## Examples

- Don't get ahead of yourself; finish this task first.
- She started planning the wedding menu before she was even engaged, but her sister told her not to get ahead of herself.
- While the investors were eager to project record-breaking profits for the next decade, the CEO cautioned them not to get ahead of themselves until the prototype passed its final safety inspection.

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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.