pole position
noun /ˈpəʊl pəzɪʃn/
/ˈpəʊl pəzɪʃn/
[uncountable, countable]- the leading position at the start of a race involving cars or bicycles
- Alonso has taken pole position on the grid for Sunday's race.
- Rossi claimed his sixth successive pole position.
- the leading position in a competition or contest
- There are several leadership contenders vying for pole position at the moment.
- in pole position She's in pole position to grab the Olympic 100m gold.
Word Origin1950s: from a 19th-cent. use of pole in horse racing, denoting the starting position next to the inside boundary fence.