launch · starting line · whistle · gunshot · set · action · takeoff · dash · mark · starting blocks · green light · signal · runners · competition · anticipation · burst · trigger · charge
ready steady gocaught off guard
Surprised when unprepared
unprepared · not ready · unawares · flat-footed · blindsided
IDEA.org / Words / ready steady go
Related — start (To set going); race (Competition of speed); countdown (Backward enumeration to zero); sprint · begin · launch · starting line · whistle · gunshot · set · action · takeoff · dash
INITIATION VS CESSATIONready steady go ≠ stop Cease all motion; halt · cease · finish · end · game over
PREPAREDNESS VS UNPREPAREDNESSready steady go ≠ caught off guard Surprised when unprepared; unprepared · not ready · unawares · flat-footed · blindsided
ACTION VS INACTIONready steady go ≠ hold Maintain in grasp; wait · freeze · stay · stand by · hold your horses
readiness: ready, prepared, set, alert, primed
Word data: Linguabase (CC0) · www.idea.org/words/ready_steady_go