starter for ten

English

Etymology

From the British TV quiz programme University Challenge, where the phrase refers to the first question given to a contestant, worth ten points.

Noun

starter for ten (plural starters for ten)

1. Something, especially a question or problem, to be tackled first.
   • 2015, Nick Graham, Project Management for Dummies:

     The activity network diagram isn't at all difficult to understand, so, as your starter for ten points, what do you think the diagram in Figure 62 means?

   • 2022, Debbie Young, Best Murder in Show:

     'Oh, and take this on the house as your starter for ten.' He thrust the copy of Travels with my Aunt into my hand, and wrapped around it a dog-eared copy of The Bookseller magazine. 'Because you'll never get time to read while you're working here.'