off to the races
Competition has started
Off to the races describes a sudden, energetic start to an activity or competition.
The phrase evokes horses bursting from the starting gate: Once the strategy was announced, the team was off to the races.
It often suggests rapid progress or enthusiastic pursuit: Get her talking about politics and she's off to the races.
- kick-offInitial starting action
- get goingCommence motion or activity
- fast startStrong early performance
- running startPre-momentum before attempt
- break groundStart a building project
thrill · acceleration · hit the ground running · sprint · track · embark · eagerness · rapidity · anticipation · finish line · winner's circle · contender · launch · betting · start-up · full steam ahead · jockeying · take off
- Fast Startshit the ground running, flying start, quick off the mark, jump start, head start
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field
- beginningsbegin, beginning, start, first, opening
- racing termsbackstretch, checkered flag, daily double, dead heat, exacta
off to the racesstalled
Stopped unexpectedly
at a standstill · stuck · dead in the water · going nowhere · spinning one's wheels
off to the racesback to square one
Return to the beginning
dead on arrival · nipped in the bud · stillborn · false start · back to the drawing board
race, races, racing, raced, racer, racers, racehorse, racetrack, offing