beat somebody to the punch
US /biːt ˈsʌm.bə.di tuː ðə pʌntʃ/
UK /biːt ˈsʌm.bə.di tuː ðə pʌntʃ/
1.
to do something before someone else does it, especially to gain an advantage
:
•
I was about to suggest that, but you beat me to the punch.
•
The rival company tried to beat us to the punch by launching their product earlier.