false start

¹

noun

1. Sports. a premature start by one or more of the contestants, as in a swimming or track event, necessitating calling the field back to start again.
2. a failure to begin an undertaking successfully.

false-start

²

[ fawls-stahrt ]

verb (used without object)

, Sports.

1. to leave the starting line or position too early and thereby necessitate repeating the signal to begin a race.

Word History and Origins

Origin of false start¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Origin of false start²

First recorded in 1805–15

Idioms and Phrases

A wrong beginning, as in After several false starts she finally managed to write the first chapter . The term originated in racing, where it refers to beginning a race before the starting signal has been given. The expression was soon transferred to other kinds of failed beginning. [Early 1800s]

Example Sentences

He was penalised for a false start, after lining up well forward of his grid slot, and then damaged his car in an incident with RB's Liam Lawson in Turn Four.

From BBC

Solanke suffered an early injury which gave him a false start at Spurs, but three goals in three games, and his outstanding all-round display at Old Trafford, justified Postecoglou's faith and served to revive his England career.

From BBC

The launch of the subscriber plan comes more than a year after CNN’s false start into the streaming marketplace.

From Los Angeles Times

Offensive lineman Sam Mustipher was penalized twice, once for an illegal chop block on the Chargers’ second offensive drive and for a false start in the third quarter.

From Los Angeles Times

A false start triggered another Bieniemy barb.

From Los Angeles Times