leg up

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The act of assisting another's progress over a wall or other obstacle by forming a step for one of their feet with one's hands.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

hành động giúp đỡ người khác leo qua chướng ngại vật

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A boost, a sudden improvement; an advantage, an edge.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

sự cải thiện đột ngột, lợi thế

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Assistance, help given to get started or overcome a problem or obstacle.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

sự hỗ trợ, giúp đỡ để bắt đầu hoặc vượt qua khó khăn

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “leg up” mean?

The act of assisting another's progress over a wall or other obstacle by forming a step for one of their feet with one's hands.

Is “leg up” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.