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blaze a trail
/bleɪz ə treɪl/◆idiom
to pioneer something new
She blazed a trail in the field of renewable energy.
She was the first to develop important innovations in renewable energy.
informal
to be the first to do something new or innovative, often paving the way for others
Elon Musk blazed a trail with electric vehicles.
Elon Musk was a pioneer in the electric vehicle industry.
The startup blazed a trail in AI-driven healthcare solutions.
The startup introduced groundbreaking AI applications in healthcare.
Often used to describe individuals or organizations that lead innovation in a field.
Collocations
blaze a trail into pioneer something in a specific field
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Tip
Use 'blaze a trail' when describing someone who introduces significant innovations that others later follow. It implies both originality and influence.
Gold Rule
Idiom Rule
Never use this phrase literally (e.g., 'The hiker blazed a trail through the forest'). It always carries the figurative meaning of pioneering innovation.
Word Origin
From the literal act of cutting a path through wilderness (blazing marks on trees) to metaphorically lead the way in innovation. First recorded in the early 19th century.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in business, technology, and creative fields to describe innovation. Can be used in both positive and neutral contexts.
Word Breakdown
blaze
to mark a path with blazes (notches on trees)
verba trail
a path or route
noun phraseEnglish Dictionary