先(さき)を越(こ)される

さきをこされる
expression
to be beaten to it; to be outdone; to have someone get ahead of you
action
1. to be beaten to it; to be outdone; to have someone get there first
Describes the experience of being surpassed or preempted by someone else who achieves something before you do. The passive form of 先(さき)を越(こ)す (to get ahead of).
ライバルに先(さき)を越(こ)された。
I was beaten to it by my rival.
告白(こくはく)しようと思(おも)っていたのに、友人(ゆうじん)に先(さき)を越(こ)された。
I was going to confess my feelings, but my friend beat me to it.
同(おな)じアイデアを考(かんが)えていたが、他社(たしゃ)に先(さき)を越(こ)されて商品化(しょうひんか)された。
We had been thinking of the same idea, but another company beat us to it and brought the product to market.

The passive form of 先(さき)を越(こ)す (to get ahead of, to outdo). Expresses frustration or disappointment at having been preempted by someone else.

Forms

先(さき)を越(こ)す means "to get ahead of" from the agent's perspective:

Common patterns

  • 〜に先(さき)を越(こ)される: to be beaten to it by ~
  • 先(さき)を越(こ)されまいと: determined not to be outdone
  • 先(さき)を越(こ)された悔(くや)しさ: the frustration of being beaten to it

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 後塵(こうじん)を拝(はい)する (to fall behind, to eat someone's dust)
Compare: 追(お)い越(こ)す (to be overtaken)
general
Added 2026.4.3 4:22 · Revised 2026.10.7 15:25
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