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lead-up

American  
[leed-uhp] / ˈlidˌʌp /

noun

  1. something that provides an approach to or preparation for an event or situation.

Etymology

Origin of lead-up

1950–55; noun use of verb phrase lead up ( to )

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.