Off to the races
Posted by ESC on October 18, 2004
In Reply to: Off to the races posted by Lewis on October 18, 2004
: : Can anybody tell me the meaning of the following phrase "off to the races" ? Does it mean "escalation" ? "competition" ?
: : Many thanks,
: : Maurice
: usually just means 'elsewhere' or in a dream world. however somebody not being 'at the races' [today] is a way of saying that they were without a chance - just not there - missing in action - having a bad day at the office - that kind of thing.
I'm from the U.S. My understanding of the phrase is that it is the same as "here we go."
off to the races -- moving quickly ahead, off to a good start. When we get our business loan, we'll be off to the races. home.t-online.de/home/toni.goeller/idiom_wm/index.htm Accessed October 18, 2004. Wayne Magnuson, English Idioms Sayings and Slang.