‘he came up with this story at the last minute, just to cut me off at the pass' Bullfinch); pass; outrank (iQ); beat someone to (something) (кого-либо в чём-либо) We've been working on it for many years, but we're years away from the working prototype. – Maybe somedoby beat you to it. q3mi4); have the lead (Andrey Truhachev); be in the lead (Andrey Truhachev); cast behind; cast off; forereach; be stay one jump ahead of (someone – кого-либо); be in advance of (someone – кого-либо); beat someone to something (кого-либо) в (чем-то; To do or obtain something before someone else does. Also: To reach a destination before someone else does. ( ) thefreedictionary.com Neolle); get the start of (someone – кого-либо); get before one (кого-л.); have the heels of (кого-л.); outpass; outstep; outstride; overreach; override; overrun; shoot a head of; get the start of one (кого-л.); take the wind of; get the wind of; shoot ahead of (smb., кого́-л.); get the jump on (sb., sth, кого-л., что-л.); have the jump on (sb., sth., кого-л., что-л.); get ahead of (infoq.com Alex_Odeychuk)