The phrase "steal a march on someone" means to gain an advantage over someone without their knowledge or preparation. The spelling of this phrase can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). "Steal" is spelled /stiːl/, with a long "ee" sound and a voiceless "s" sound. "A" is pronounced /ə/, as in "uh". "March" is spelled /mɑːtʃ/, with a long "ah" sound and a voiceless "ch" sound. "On" is pronounced /ɒn/, with a short "o" sound and a nasal "n". Together, the phrase is pronounced /stiːl ə mɑːtʃ ɒn sʌmwʌn/.
"Steal a march on someone" is an idiomatic expression which refers to gaining an advantage over someone else through cunning or quick action. This phrase is often used in a metaphorical sense to describe a strategic move or action that gives someone a head start or allows them to achieve an objective before their competitors or opponents.
In a literal sense, the origin of this phrase can be traced back to military tactics. During a battle or campaign, gaining an unexpected advantage or surprise attack on the enemy by marching faster or taking an alternate route would result in having an upper hand and increased chances of victory.
Figuratively, "steal a march on someone" is commonly used in non-military contexts to describe situations where a person or group gains an advantage by taking a preemptive action or by being ahead of others in accomplishing a task or reaching a goal. This action can involve being more organized, proactive, resourceful, or having valuable information that allows them to outmaneuver their competition or achieve success swiftly.
Overall, "steal a march on someone" suggests gaining an advantage through cleverness, resourcefulness, or swift action, allowing the individual or group to gain a competitive edge and position themselves ahead in a particular situation.