Translation guide
This English phrase means someone else does something before you can, often taking an opportunity or advantage. In Japanese, it is usually expressed with verbs meaning 'to be beaten to it' or 'to be preempted', rather than a direct passive translation.
Express that someone else did something before you could, often resulting in a lost chance.
Literally 'to have one's lead overtaken'. The most common and natural way to say someone beat you to something.
彼に先を越されて、いいアイデアを取られた。
He forestalled me and took the good idea.
またライバル会社に先を越された。
We were forestalled by our rival company again.
Focus on the result of being stopped or hindered because someone acted first.
Literally 'to have the first move made against you'. Emphasizes being put on the defensive.
相手に先手を打たれて、何もできなかった。
We were forestalled by the opponent and couldn't do anything.
English 'be forestalled' is passive, but Japanese often uses passive forms of verbs like 先を越す or 出し抜く. Do not try to translate 'forestall' directly as a single verb; there is no exact equivalent.
Implies being outwitted or outmaneuvered, often with a nuance of cunning. Slightly stronger than 先を越される.
同僚に出し抜かれて、昇進のチャンスを逃した。
I was forestalled by a colleague and missed the promotion opportunity.
A formal, literary expression meaning 'to be preempted'. Used in strategic or competitive contexts.
敵に機先を制せられ、作戦は失敗した。
We were forestalled by the enemy, and the operation failed.
Means 'to be nipped in the bud' or have one's initial attempt thwarted. Common in everyday speech.
彼に反論しようとしたら、出鼻をくじかれた。
I was about to object, but he forestalled me.