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 先を越す (to get ahead of).
The passive form of 先を越す (to get ahead of, to outdo). Expresses frustration or disappointment at having been preempted by someone else.
Active form
先を越す means "to get ahead of" from the agent's perspective:
Common patterns
- 〜に先を越される: to be beaten to it by ~
- 先を越されまいと: determined not to be outdone
- 先を越された悔しさ: the frustration of being beaten to it