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our own, “rose coloured glasses.”
time point 12 hours

Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

I’m ahead

English answer:

before things get worse for me

Added to glossary by Michael Powers (PhD)
Mar 18, 2009 20:14
15 yrs ago
English term

I’m ahead

English Bus/Financial Human Resources
From employee's sayings during a HR survey:

" I just can’t figure this out! The harder I try the worse it gets. Maybe I should just quit while I’m ahead."

I am not sure about what "I’m ahead" means in this context. There's no more context the following sentences are from other employees about totally different topics

Thanks in advance for your help
Responses
4 +7 before things get worse for me
4 +6 have an advantage / be on top
4 +1 I am still winning
3 I'm ahead of schedule
Change log

Mar 18, 2009 21:11: Tony M changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Mar 18, 2009 23:54: Michael Powers (PhD) Created KOG entry

Mar 18, 2009 23:55: Michael Powers (PhD) changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/52429">Michael Powers (PhD)'s</a> old entry - "I’m ahead"" to ""before things get worse for me""

Mar 18, 2009 23:55: Michael Powers (PhD) changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"

Responses

+7
3 mins
Selected

before things get worse for me

Since there is a negative correlation between effort how well things are going for him, he is contemplating quitting before things continue to get worse for him.

Mike :)

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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-03-18 23:54:00 GMT) Post-grading
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You're welcome
Peer comment(s):
agree Jeanette Phillips
9 mins
Thank you, Jeanette - Mike :)
agree T o b i a s
22 mins
Thank you, Toby - Mike :)
agree airmailrpl : -
50 mins
Thank you, airmailrpl - Mike :)
agree Trudy Peters
51 mins
Thank you, Trudy - Mike :)
neutral Tony M : But not really 'before things continue to get worse for him' — the implication is more that (for the moment) they're still going well... but that may change!
52 mins
Actually, in this specific case the following quote indicates that although positive, things have already started to degnerate: "The harder I try the worse it gets. Maybe I should just quit while I’m ahead." At least that is my interpretation - Mike :)
agree Suzan Hamer : Yup; quit before it gets any worse.
1 hr
Thank you, Suzan - Mike :)
agree sueaberwoman
1 hr
Thank you, sueaberwoman - Mike :)
agree Gary D : Before I dig myself into a hole I can't get out of, before I put my foot in my mouth any further.
7 hrs
Thank you, Gary - Mike :)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all"
+6
3 mins

have an advantage / be on top

It's an idiom - to quit while you're ahead.

To stop something on a winning streak, while you still have an advantage.

This phrase can be used to express the idea that one should stop doing something that's rewarding but risky before something bad happens.

Reference:

http://www.englishclub.com/ref/esl/Idioms/Q/quit_while_you_re_ahead_18.htm

Peer comment(s):
agree Jeanette Phillips
9 mins
agree Trudy Peters
51 mins
agree Tina Vonhof (X) : Excellent explanation.
2 hrs
agree cmwilliams (X)
2 hrs
agree Nicole Y. Adams, M.A.
12 hrs
agree acetran
2563 days
Something went wrong...
+1
3 mins

I am still winning

I am still in a winning situation

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 mins (2009-03-18 20:18:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the situation is still advantageous to me, but it may turn for the worse in the future
Peer comment(s):
agree Tony M : Yes, "quit while you're ahead" is a standard expression
53 mins
Something went wrong...
24 mins

I'm ahead of schedule

Possible meaning.
Example sentence:

Another 17 percent say, "I am ahead of schedule and may end up surpassing my goal."

But come on, it's MARKETING! I have my time scheduled out and of course, and as usual, I am ahead of schedule.

Reference:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/PRNewswire/release/121720.html

http://transient-lifetime.blogspot.com/

Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : I wouldn't say that in this set expression, the implication is usually 'ahead of schedule' specifically (though it might fortuitously be the case)
32 mins
Something went wrong...
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