be off the (starting) blocks

To be working on a certain activity. (Runners are positioned at the "starting blocks" at the beginning of a race.) The construction crew is already off the blocks, so you need to call them right now if you want to stop the project.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Chelsie	CHEL-see	English (Modern)
Justy	JUS-tee	English
Fakhriyya	-	Arabic
Hallr	-	Ancient Scandinavian
Maura	['mɔ:rə]
Zola (2)	-	Southern African, Zulu