A step ahead

“A step ahead” means a little bit more prepared, skilled, or successful than someone or something else. Some of the tips for communicating while wearing a mask come from women who wear face coverings in public for religious reasons – they’re already “a step ahead” of the rest of us. These women are more prepared to communicate while wearing a mask because they’ve been doing it for a long time. The employee has been working extra hard so that she can stay “a step ahead” of another employee in line for the promotion. The criminal hasn’t been arrested yet because he’s always “one step ahead” of the cops.