get a leg up

1. To receive a physical boost or lift upward. I think I can reach the roof if I can get a leg up from someone. I can't find the stool. How else can I get a leg up and put the star on top of the Christmas tree? I won't be able to reach the dishes on the top shelf unless I get a leg up.

2. To receive support, encouragement, or an added advantage. Our after-school program is aimed to help students get a leg up in any subject they are having difficulty with. I wouldn't have been able to afford college if I hadn't gotten a leg up from my parents. A: "How exactly did I get a leg up here?" B: "You had inside knowledge of the company before you interviewed for the job!"