starting gun / kickoff
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starting gun
The acoustic or visual signal that indicates the beginning of a competition, especially a race. Classically, this is the bang of a starting pistol.
Die Läuferinnen warteten angespannt auf den Startschuss.
The female runners waited tensely for the starting gun.
kickoff
In a figurative sense, the beginning or launch of an action, project, or development.
Die Unterzeichnung des Vertrags war der Startschuss für das neue Bauprojekt.
The signing of the contract was the kickoff for the new construction project.
The word is made up of 'Start' (start) and 'Schuss' (shot). So it literally describes the shot from a pistol that starts a race or competition.
Alle Athleten konzentrierten sich auf den bevorstehenden Startschuss.
All the athletes focused on the upcoming starting gun.
Two very common verbs used with 'Startschuss' (starting gun/kickoff) are 'fallen' (to fall) and 'geben' (to give). You say 'der Startschuss fällt' (the starting gun goes off / the kickoff happens, passive) or 'jemand gibt den Startschuss' (someone gives the starting signal / kicks something off, active).
Der Bürgermeister gab den Startschuss für den Marathon.
The mayor gave the starting signal for the marathon.
'Startschuss' (kickoff) is very often used figuratively for the beginning of a project, campaign, or new phase. The context makes it clear that it is not a real shot.
Die Pressekonferenz war der offizielle Startschuss für den Wahlkampf.
The press conference was the official kickoff for the election campaign.
To say what the 'Startschuss' (starting gun/kickoff) applies to, the preposition 'für' (for) followed by the accusative is almost always used.
Das war der Startschuss für eine komplett neue Entwicklung in der Firma.
That was the kickoff for a completely new development in the company.
opening / upbeat
Der Auftakt is the beginning, opening, or first phase of a project or development. Der Startschuss, in its figurative sense, refers more to the decisive impulse that sets everything in motion. Auftakt fits an opening event, while Startschuss fits the event that triggers the process.
Die Bewilligung der Mittel ist der Startschuss für das neue Umweltprojekt.
The approval of the funding is the kickoff for the new environmental project.
Der erste Workshop bildet den Auftakt des neuen Umweltprojekts.
The first workshop marks the opening of the new environmental project.
