1 B2 neutral
An act of helping someone climb up by cupping one's hands for their foot to step into.
"Give me a leg up over this fence — I can't reach the top."
leg up
B2 neutral
An act of helping someone climb up physically, or an advantage or helpful start given to someone.
In plain English
Help to get up or over something physically, or a helpful advantage given by someone else.
What does "leg up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
An advantage or useful assistance that helps someone progress in their career, project, or life.
"Getting an internship at that firm gave her a real leg up in the industry."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
Using your clasped hands to give someone a boost upward with their leg.
Actually means
Help to get up or over something physically, or a helpful advantage given by someone else.
Usage tip
Most commonly used as a noun phrase ('a leg up'), often in 'give someone a leg up'. In British English, also used literally for helping someone mount a horse or climb over a wall. The figurative sense is very common in business and career contexts.
Words that pair with "leg up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
give get need advantage career opportunity
How to conjugate "leg up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
leg up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
legs up
he/she/it
Past simple
leged up
yesterday
Past participle
leged up
have + pp
-ing form
leging up
continuous
Hear "leg up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "leg up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "leg up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
advantage assist boost head start helping hand push
Keep exploring
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