"ready, steady, go" means: The British English version of the race-starting countdown phrase 'ready, set, go' used in the US. 'Steady' replaces 'set' to mean 'hold you.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
ready, steady, go
The British English version of the race-starting countdown phrase 'ready, set, go' used in the US.
Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 28, 2026UK
The British English version of the race-starting countdown phrase 'ready, set, go' used in the US. 'Steady' replaces 'set' to mean 'hold your position, prepare to move.' The phrase is the standard British starting call for races, games, and competitions, and is deeply embedded in British childhood experience. Also the name of the influential 1960s British pop music TV show.
She raised her hand and called 'ready, steady, go!' and the children all sprinted across the lawn.
Origin: British English formulation of a race-start command: 'ready' (prepare), 'steady' (hold still and focus), 'go' (start). 'Steady' from Old Norse stöðugr (stable, fixed). Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
For parents
"ready, steady, go" means: The British English version of the race-starting countdown phrase 'ready, set, go' used in the US. 'Steady' replaces 'set' to mean 'hold you.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"ready, steady, go" means: The British English version of the race-starting countdown phrase 'ready, set, go' used in the US. 'Steady' replaces 'set' to mean 'hold you.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (British) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK
(UK, sports) Ready, set, go.
Cluster: general
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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UK
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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
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Other words near "ready, steady, go" (R)
readjusterread offread outread someone the riot actready for the offready saltedReaganrealreal and straightreal arcreal checkreal coded
Browse all slang words starting with R.