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.
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.
beginning
'der Anfang' and 'der Startschuss' both have to do with the beginning of something. 'der Anfang' is the general word for the first part or the beginning. 'der Startschuss' is originally a signal that starts a race. Figuratively, it means the clear kickoff of an action, a project, or a development. 'Anfang' describes the beginning itself. 'Startschuss' puts more emphasis on the moment when something officially or clearly gets underway.
Mit der ersten Besprechung fiel der Startschuss für das neue Projekt.
The first meeting marked the kickoff for the new project.
Vor der Reise ist der Anfang der Planung oft am schwierigsten.
Before a trip, the beginning of the planning is often the most difficult part.