false start

• 1. 

  N-COUNT A false start is an attempt to start something, such as a speech, project, or plan, which fails because you were not properly prepared or ready to begin. 失败的开端

  例：

  Any economic reform, he said, faced false starts and mistakes.

  他说任何经济改革都面临过一些不成功的开始和错误。

• 2. 

  N-COUNT If there is a false start at the beginning of a race, one of the competitors moves before the person who starts the race has given the signal. 起跑犯规

  例：

  He powered away after two false starts to win comfortably.

  他在两次起跑犯规后奋力猛冲而轻松获胜。