先さきを越こす

also: せんをこす

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-su)

take the initiative; forestall; beat to the punch

Used when someone acts before another person, seizing an opportunity or advantage. Often implies a competitive or preemptive move.

彼かれに先さきを越こされて、いいアイデアを取とられてしまった。
He beat me to the punch and took the good idea.

ライバル会社がいしゃに先さきを越こされないように、早はやく新しん製せい品ひんを発はっ表ぴょうしよう。

Let's announce the new product quickly so we don't get forestalled by our rival company.

Written forms

先を越す
- さきをこす
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading さきをこす is the most common.
- せんをこす
  Alternate reading; less common and may be considered non-standard by some speakers.
せんをこす

Kanji

先before, ahead, previous
越surpass, cross over, move to

Similar words

先せん手てを打うつ
Similar meaning of taking the initiative, but 先手を打つ emphasizes making a preemptive move in a strategic context, while 先を越す focuses on acting before someone else, often in a competitive or opportunistic situation.
出だし抜ぬく
Also means to outmaneuver or get ahead of someone, but 出し抜く often carries a nuance of cunning or underhandedness, whereas 先を越す is more neutral about the method.

Etymology

Compound of 先 (saki, 'ahead; before') + を (wo, object marker) + 越す (kosu, 'to go beyond; to surpass'). Literally 'to surpass what is ahead', i.e., to get ahead of someone.