be out of the blocks

To be working on a certain activity. (Runners are positioned at the "starting blocks" at the beginning of a race.) The construction crew is already out of the blocks, so you need to call them right now if you want to stop the project. You know, yours isn't the only company that's out of the blocks with mixed-reality technology. Please tell me the interns are out of the blocks on that mailing—it really needs to go out by the end of the week.