be off to the races

1. To depart (for some place), especially very promptly. Your suitcases better be packed because, once the cab gets here, we'll be off to the races. I'm sorry, Bill already left. He had to catch the five o'clock train, so he was off to the races right after the meeting. A: "The kids aren't exactly off to the races, huh?" B: "Well, they do know we're going to the dentist."

2. To be making good progress in some activity. Good news, sir—the architect is already off to the races on that project you approved this morning. If you've already found that much research to support your argument, it sounds like you're off to the races for your term paper. Wow, the builders are really off to the races now—look how much progress they've made on the house in the past week!