THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Ahead of the curve
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
More advanced or quicker to understand and respond to developments than others.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- The library was ahead of the curve when it began offering online research workshops.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
0 of 1 checked correctly
Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
The library was ________ when it began offering online research workshops.
Show the answer
Ahead of the curve — More advanced or quicker to understand and respond to developments than others.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Ahead of the curve” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
More advanced or quicker to understand and respond to developments than others.
Compare: The library was ahead of the curve when it began offering online research workshops.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.
GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
Jump to a section
When to use it
Use this expression in conversations about work, learning or changing methods. Explain the comparison rather than using it as an unsupported claim of superiority.
More examples in context
- Regular training helps our team stay ahead of the curve on new design tools.
- By studying the new format early, the tutors were ahead of the curve when it became common.
Usage note
Use ahead of the curve, with of and the. Behind the curve is the opposite. The expression is relative to others or to developments; simply being busy does not make someone ahead of the curve.
A short conversation
A: Why are we testing the new system already?
B: We want to stay ahead of the curve before it becomes standard.
A: Let’s record what we learn.
One more practice question
Which team is ahead of the curve?
A. One that understands and adopts a useful development before most comparable teams.
B. One that has not noticed a development already widely used.
Check your answer
A. The team is more advanced in responding to the development, which provides the comparison the idiom needs.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.