Are You Strong ‘Out of the Gate’?

And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.

At the start of this program, we usually share the expression or idiom we are going to talk about. We do this right out of the gate so that listeners know what to expect.

Out of the gate means the very start of something — like an audio program!

Some people are really good at starting things. Whether it is planning a fun family reunion or a serious work-related project, they are strong right out of the gate. Other people may be slow out of the gate. They take their time getting started, but they may be strong finishers.

So, out of the gate means the very of beginning of something. We can also say at the outset.

Here is an example. As soon as I signed up for an online class, I had trouble with technology. I couldn’t get logged in. I forgot my password. And then my computer crashed. I had so many technical issues right out of the gate! I had problems at the outset or at the very beginning of the class.

This expression comes from sports or activities that involve holding animals behind a gate until it is time to start. With horse racing, dog racing, and bull-riding, the animals all wait behind a gate.

When I was a child, my parents often took me to horse races. The horses were behind a gate as they waited to start the race. As soon as they were out of the gate, the race had started! That’s also when my parents would start yelling. Right out of the gate, they would yell for their horse to win.

In English, we have other similar expressions.

Word experts say that the expression right off the bat is from baseball, cricket, or another sport where a bat is involved.

The batter hits the ball, the ball is in play and the actions of the other players begin. They are, more or less, waiting for that ball to be hit before they have something to do. So, if something happens right off the bat, it happens as soon as something starts.

Another similar expression is from the get-go. When we say from the get-go, we are also talking about the start of something.

Here’s an example using that one. Let’s say you start a new job. It’s important to make a good first impression from the get-go. On your first day, you want to be on time and ready to work. As we like to say, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.

And that’s all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. Until next time … I’m Anna Matteo.

Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.

_____________________________________________

Words in This Story

reunion – n. a reuniting of persons after separation : an event where people come together after a period of separation

outset – n. a beginning, a start

impression – n. an especially marked and often favorable influence or effect on feeling, sense, or mind

We want to hear from you. Do you have similar expressions in your language? In the Comments section, you can also practice using any of the expressions from the story.

Our comment policy is here. Or send us an email at VOALearningEnglish@voanews.com