false start
noun/ˌfɔːls ˈstɑːt/
/ˌfɔːls ˈstɑːrt/
- an unsuccessful attempt to begin something
- After a number of false starts, she finally found a job she liked.
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
- (sport) a situation when somebody taking part in a race starts before the official signal has been given
Check pronunciation:
false start