核心畫面

One way to hold this phrase: a line of runners waiting, and one of them standing a few steps in front. The whistle has not gone yet, so nobody has run at all — and already that person is closer to the finish. Everything this phrase says lives in that moment. The advantage is there before the effort starts, it came from outside the runner, and it only covers the first stretch; after that, everyone runs.

可以想成:一排人站在起跑線上等,其中一個人站得比大家前面幾步。哨音還沒響,誰都還沒跑,但那個人已經離終點近一點了。這更多收起可以想成:一排人站在起跑線上等,其中一個人站得比大家前面幾步。哨音還沒響,誰都還沒跑,但那個人已經離終點近一點了。這個詞要講的東西,全在那一刻裡。好處在努力開始之前就有了,它是別人給的或自己先佔的,而且它只管前面那一小段——哨音一響,後面還是各跑各的。所以英文說某人 had a head start,是在說他起點不同,不是在說他一定贏。

Two branches

真的站在前面

畫面照字面用:真的有一場比賽,也真的有幾秒或幾公尺的差距。

noun · B2

A start in a race in which you begin before the others, or from a place nearer the finish, so that you are already ahead when the race begins.

提前起跑

人生裡站在前面

同一個站位,換到沒有跑道的場合:學校、工作、一輩子。

noun · B1

Something that puts you ahead of other people right from the beginning, so that you have a better chance of doing well.

起步優勢