level the playing field

to give everyone the same advantages or opportunities It was an effort to level the playing field and achieve greater equality between the sexes. Government funding can level the playing field for political candidates without money.

Related vocabulary: have a fighting chance

Etymology: based on a comparison with a sports competition played on a field that is not level, putting one side at a disadvantage

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Dirk	[də:k]
Ingvar	-	Swedish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Danish
Antonia	ahn-TO-nyah (Italian, Spanish), an-TON-ee-ə (English), ahn-TO-nee-ah (German, Dutch), ahn-TAWN-yah (Polish)	Italian, Spanish, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Polish, Romanian, Ancient Roma
Orso	-	Italian
Kristi	KRIS-tee	English
Joep	YOOP	Dutch