leg up

1. Literally, a boost from another person that enables one to reach something that one could not reach on one's own. Give me a leg up so I can reach the dishes on the top shelf.

2. An advantage in a situation or over another person. Getting certifications will definitely give you a leg up in the IT industry. I knew I had a leg up on my opponent when I saw that he was struggling to counter my opening moves.

*leg up

Fig. a kind of help where someone provides a knee or crossed hand as a support for someone to place a foot on to get higher, as in mounting a horse or climbing over something. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) I gave her a leg up, and soon she was on her horse. Can I give you a leg up? Could I please have a leg up?

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Cai (1)	-	Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Woodruff	['wudrʌf]
Jone (2)	-	Norwegian
Carleton	KAHRL-tən	English
Ioubal	-	Biblical Greek
Lillie	LIL-ee	English