Fig. one step in advance of someone or something. Try to stay one jump ahead of the competition.If you're one move ahead, you're well prepared to deal with problems. Then, nothing is a surprise.
Anticipating and prepared for what will happen, as in We have to keep one jump ahead of the opposition, or A clever embezzler, Charles was just one jump ahead of the police. [First half of 1900s] Also see get the jump on.