leg up

Something that puts you in a better position than other people.

• These skills give you a leg up.
• Our lower prices gave us a leg up on our rivals.
• Does speaking French offer a leg up in this career?

How to use it: a leg up on someone/something (Her experience gave her a leg up on the other applicants.)

Similar words: advantage, edge, head start

Opposites: disadvantage

Common phrases: a leg up on, get a leg up, provide a leg up

Help that allows someone to get started or get past a difficulty.

• Everyone needs a leg up sometimes.
• That small loan gave our new business a leg up.
• The program offers a leg up to young people looking for work.

How to use it: give someone a leg up (The grant gave her a leg up when she started her business.)

Similar words: help, assistance, boost

Common phrases: give a leg up, a financial leg up, need a leg up

Help climbing, given by someone who holds their hands together for you to step on.

• I need a leg up.
• She gave him a leg up over the fence.
• With a leg up from Tom, I reached the lowest branch.

How to use it: give someone a leg up (Give me a leg up so I can climb the wall.)

Similar words: boost

Common phrases: give a leg up, need a leg up, a leg up over

To walk a horse regularly on firm ground to strengthen its legs.

• We leg up the horses daily.
• The trainer legged up the mare on a firm track.
• How long do you spend legging up your horse?

How to use it: leg up a horse (They leg up the horse on the road beside the stable.)

Common phrases: leg up a horse, leg up horses