To maintain a leading position or competitive advantage over others in the same field or situation.
This phrase comes from hunting terminology, where the 'pack' refers to a group of hunting dogs or wolves. The leader of the pack sets the pace and direction. The metaphor transferred to human competition by the early 1900s, emphasizing sustained leadership rather than momentary advantage.
The pack metaphor is particularly powerful because it suggests that falling back isn't just about losing position - it's about potentially becoming prey rather than predator. In nature, the leader of the pack literally survives better!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.