Phrasal verb
get ahead of
Definition
phrasal verb. to make more progress than others or to deal with a problem before it happens.
phrasal verb. to surpass others in progress or achievement; alternatively, to act proactively to manage a situation before it becomes problematic.
Examples
“She works hard to get ahead of her classmates.”
“The company released a statement early to get ahead of the negative rumors.”
“By investing in renewable energy now, the firm hopes to get ahead of the upcoming environmental regulations and secure a market lead.”
Examples
simple
“She works hard to get ahead of her classmates.”
contextual
“The company released a statement early to get ahead of the negative rumors.”
complex
“By investing in renewable energy now, the firm hopes to get ahead of the upcoming environmental regulations and secure a market lead.”
Usage
usually followed by a person, a competitor, or a potential problem.
Teaching tip
highlight the two nuances: the competitive sense (beating others) and the proactive sense (preventing trouble); 'get ahead of the curve' is a common related idiom.
Pitfall
He got ahead his work.
He got ahead of his work.
the preposition 'of' is essential to connect the verb phrase to the object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
ahead of
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
get + ahead + of + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/get-ahead-of