hau6 loi4 geoi1 soeng5後來居上后来居上
Jyutpinghau6 loi4 geoi1 soeng5
Yalehauh lòih gēui séuhng
Definition
Latecomers overtaking those who started before them; catching up from behind to take the lead.
neutralother
How it's used
This idiom is often used in competitive contexts like sports, business, or academic rankings to describe a dramatic turnaround. It emphasizes the contrast between a slow or disadvantageous start and a successful finish. It is a formal idiom that is frequently used in news reports or commentary to describe unexpected success.
Examples
They started slowly, but they caught up and won the race.
Do you think he has a chance to overtake the others and come out on top?
Related words
Common phrases
successfully overtake and finish first
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
