the first leg

the first leg

The first stage or part (of something). I did well for the first leg of the race, but then my muscles started cramping up. I'm excited for our trip, but whose brilliant idea was it to start the first leg with a 4 AM flight?
See also: first, leg
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

first leg (of a journey)

 and the first leg (of the journey)
the first segment of a journey; the first flight of a multiflight trip. The first leg of the journey got me to London.
See also: first, leg
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • first leg
  • the first leg of the/(one's) journey
  • be first past the post
  • first and foremost
  • foremost
  • for a start
  • first in, best dressed
  • be first out of the box
  • first past the post
  • refusal
References in periodicals archive
Spearheaded by the powerhouse Luzon Gamecock Breeders Association (LGBA), the first leg on Friday supported by Sagupaan Superfeeds and Complexor 3000 is a 7-stag derby (3-stag elims and 4-stag finals).
The first leg of this year's Philippine-Indonesian Coordinated Patrol culminated yesterday as the patrolling ships of both countries are expected to reach their final point in the territorial waters of Indonesia in the Celebes Sea.
We all know what happened recently on the international stage, and we do not want to be victims as well,' he said in reference of the UEFA Champions League game in which Barcelona carried a healthy 3-0 led from the first leg, only to succumb 4-0 on aggregate.
SECOND ROUND Celtic 6 Nantes 2 (3-1, 3-1) STEIN let his players go shopping on the morning of the first leg in France, and the move paid off as McBride, Bobby Lennox and Chalmers all struck in a comfortable away win.
UEFA have confirmed the Champions League semi-final dates with Tottenham Hotspur hosting Ajax Amsterdam on April 30 in the first leg at the refurbished White Hart Lane stadium.
United need a European miracle to progress against the La Liga leaders having lost the first leg 1-0 at Old Trafford, but it's only just over a month since they found one to reach this stage of the competition.
We played well in the first leg and if we seek to play better than we did in the first leg then we will emerge champions.'
The first leg matches will take place on April 7 and the second legs on April 14.
It was an inspiring revenge victory for Mitch Ocholla's Nakuru, who had lost to the Sarries 26-22 in the first leg in Nakuru."We are confident of reaching the play-offs for the first time in two seasons considering that we haven't lost in our last four outings," said Ocholla.
If there is, the first leg of that game would probably be played on Saturday, May 12, and could kick off earlier than scheduled.
The Reds came through an all-Premier League quarter-final against Manchester City, winning the first leg 3-0 at Anfield and the second 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
After being humbled 4-0 in the first leg in Paris, few gave Barcelona a chance of overturning such a big deficit in the second leg at the Nou Camp but in Luis Enrique's final season as head coach that is exactly what Lionel Messi and Co pulled off.
Shabab Al Ahli coach Mahdi Ali has urged his men to forget the first leg of their Arabian Gulf Cup quarterfinal fixture and think of it as they are starting from zero.
Ahmed Hegazi's header led Al Ahly to a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Cairo and the goalless draw in the second leg in South Africa secured Ahly's qualification to the group stage.
Muscat: The Oman Sail duo of Sidney Gavignet and Fahad Al Hasni are still ambitious and will be racing for a top of the fleet finish despite losing some time during the first leg of the Les Sables-Horta-Les Sables race from France to the Azores after gear failure.