leap-frog

Two children play leap-frog in the park.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A children's game: "leap-frog" is a game in which one player bends down and another player leaps over them by placing hands on their back and vaulting over.
   • A figurative advancement: By extension, "leap-frog" can refer to a process of advancing or progressing by skipping over intermediate stages, often in competition or development.

Usage Examples

• Noun (game):

  • The children were playing leap-frog in the park. (They took turns jumping over each other in the game.)

• Noun (figurative):

  • The company used technological leap-frog to bypass older systems. (They advanced quickly by skipping outdated methods.)

Advanced Usage

• "to leap-frog over someone": to overtake or surpass a competitor by skipping a stage.

  • The startup leap-frogged over established firms by adopting cutting-edge technology. (They bypassed competitors through innovation.)

• "leap-frog effect": a phenomenon where progress occurs in jumps rather than gradual steps.

  • In education, the leap-frog effect can happen when students skip a grade. (They advance suddenly rather than sequentially.)

Variants and Related Words

• Leap-frogging (n/adj): the act or process of advancing by leaps; also used as an adjective.

  • Leap-frogging into new markets is risky but rewarding. (The strategy of bypassing stages to enter markets directly.)

• Leap-frogger (n): a person who plays leap-frog or uses the leap-frog strategy.

  • As a leap-frogger, she always looked for shortcuts in her career. (She sought rapid advancement.)

Synonyms

• Vault: to leap over something, especially with hands on a support.
• Overtake: to catch up with and pass, especially in a race or competition.
• Skip: to omit or bypass a step or stage.

Phrasal Verbs

• Leap-frog over: to jump over someone or something in a game or figuratively.

  • He leap-frogged over the fence to escape. (He vaulted over the fence.)

• Leap-frog into: to enter a situation or position suddenly, bypassing normal steps.

  • She leap-frogged into management without any prior experience. (She skipped lower-level roles.)

Related Idioms

• Play leap-frog: to engage in the game or to advance by skipping stages.

  • The two companies played leap-frog with their product releases. (They alternated in surpassing each other.)

• Leap-frog ahead: to move forward rapidly by bypassing intermediate steps.

  • With this new invention, they could leap-frog ahead of the competition. (They gained a sudden advantage.)