pole

the greasy pole: seegreasy.

in pole position in an advantageous position.

☞ In motor racing, pole position is the position on the front row of the starting grid which will allow the driver to take the first bend on the inside. The phrase originated in the 19th century as a horse-racing term, referring to the starting position nearest the inside boundary rails.

poles apart greatly different in nature or opinion.

up the pole

1 mad. British

2 in difficulties.

3 wildly divergent from the facts or from reasonable behaviour. British

4 pregnant. chiefly Irish