0 the start of a race in which one competitor starts too early, before the official signal to begin: --
1 an attempt to do something that fails because you are not ready or not able to do it: --
2 a situation in a race when a competitor starts before the signal has been given --
3 an attempt to do something you are not ready or able to do: --
On the road to economic and monetary union, we do not want another false start.
Unfortunately, the debate on the budget had a false start.
Training gives individuals new opportunities; the chance to change their occupation in mid-stream, or perhaps to take a new way having made a false start.
There is merely the extra two minutes, because there are at present two starts, or one false start and then a real start.
A young person starting work, going into a confusing and difficult world, can suffer great mental hardship and strain if he makes a false start.
I hope we shall not have another false start.
In dealing with matters of principle a false start is even worse than no start at all.
We have spent many days and late nights on it with at least one false start and one interruption of a rather major nature.
