In the following question, choose the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom 'to steal a march'.

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with idiomatic expressions in English, specifically the idiom to steal a march. Idioms are fixed phrases whose overall meaning cannot always be guessed from the meanings of the individual words. Exams often test idioms because they reveal how well candidates understand natural, non literal English. Knowing the meaning of to steal a march is useful both for comprehension and for expressive writing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Idiom: to steal a march.
• Options: To act in a foolish way, To break something, To outshine, To see a hidden meaning.
• The task is to choose the option that correctly captures the idiomatic meaning.

Concept / Approach:
Originally, the phrase to steal a march comes from a military context, where one army secretly moves ahead of another and gains a positional advantage. In modern general usage, it means to gain an advantage over someone, often unexpectedly or quietly, or to outshine a rival by acting earlier or more effectively. Therefore, among the options, To outshine best matches this idea of gaining an edge or surpassing others in performance or achievement.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the meaning of the idiom. To steal a march means to get an advantage over someone, usually by acting early or cleverly.Step 2: Examine Option C: To outshine. To outshine means to do better than others, to be more impressive or successful than competitors.Step 3: Compare the two meanings. If you outshine someone, you effectively steal a march on them by surpassing them in some way.Step 4: Check Option A: To act in a foolish way. This relates to behaviour that lacks sense or wisdom, which does not match the idea of gaining an advantage.Step 5: Check Option B: To break something. This focuses on physical damage and is not connected to competition or superiority.Step 6: Check Option D: To see a hidden meaning. This is closer to interpretations or insights, not getting ahead of others.Step 7: Conclude that To outshine is the correct meaning of the idiom.

Verification / Alternative check:
Consider example sentences: The company stole a march on its competitors by launching the product early, meaning it gained an advantage over them. Another example is She stole a march on her colleagues by completing all the research before the meeting. In both sentences, replacing stole a march with outshone or gained an advantage keeps the meaning intact. The other options do not fit these contexts, which confirms that To outshine is the closest in meaning.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• To act in a foolish way implies unwise behaviour and would normally cause someone to lose an advantage, not gain one.
• To break something focuses on physical damage and lacks any sense of competition or improvement.
• To see a hidden meaning is more about interpretation and understanding, and does not involve surpassing others.

Common Pitfalls:
Because the word steal appears in the idiom, some learners may wrongly associate it with theft or damaging behaviour and choose a negative option. However, the idiom is metaphorical and positive, referring to strategic advantage rather than criminal action. Another pitfall is translating idioms directly into one is native language, which rarely works. It is best to learn idioms with example sentences and their established meanings in English.

Final Answer:
The idiom to steal a march means to outshine or to gain an advantage over someone.