take the lead

IPA/tˈeɪk ðə lˈiːd/
IPA/tˈeɪk ðə lˈiːd/

take the lead — 慣用語

1. to become the person or group that acts first in a situation, so that others fol

1.慣用語B2
釋義

帶頭；率先

率先行動，讓他人跟隨

to become the person or group that acts first in a situation, so that others follow your example or direction

例句

Lisa took the lead in organising the school's fundraising event.

Lisa 帶頭籌辦學校的募款活動。

take the lead in + gerund (organising)

The city of Porto took the lead on recycling programmes for local businesses.

波多市政府在當地企業的回收計畫上帶頭做起。

take the lead on + noun phrase

同義詞
  • lead the way

    more literal, often about physical movement; slightly less formal

  • set the trend

    specifically about fashion, style, or popular behaviour rather than general leadership

  • pioneer

    stronger, suggests being the very first to do something new; slightly more formal

反義詞
  • follow

    to come after rather than go first

文法句型

take the lead in [activity/noun]

take the lead on [project]

用法筆記

Commonly followed by 'in' (an activity or area) or 'on' (a project or issue). The person or group that takes the lead is seen as setting an example for others.

常見錯誤

❌He took the lead to organise the event.
✅He took the lead in organising the event.
💡This idiom uses 'in' + gerund, not a to-infinitive.

2. to move into first place in a race, election, or other competition, beating all

2.慣用語B2
釋義

領先；奪冠

在比賽中取得第一名

to move into first place in a race, election, or other competition, beating all other participants

例句

With twenty metres to go, Felipe took the lead and won the race.

最後二十公尺時，Felipe 取得領先並贏得比賽。

temporal clause + take the lead (physical race)

Hui's bakery took the lead in the competition for best bread in the region.

Hui 的麵包店在區域最佳麵包比賽中拔得頭籌。

同義詞
  • move ahead

    more informal; describes the action of overtaking others

  • get ahead

    informal; can also mean making progress in a general sense

  • forge ahead

    more emphatic; suggests pushing forward with effort

反義詞

文法句型

take the lead in [race/competition]

用法筆記

This sense is used specifically in competitive contexts — races, contests, elections, or any situation with clear winners and losers. Unlike sense 1, the emphasis is on beating others rather than setting an example.

常見錯誤

❌She took the lead of the race.
✅She took the lead in the race.
💡Use 'in', not 'of', to name the competition.