early beginning 苗头

“苗头”，汉语词语，意思是微微显现出来的发展趋势或情况。可以翻译为“early beginning，symptom of a trend或suggestion of a new development”等。

例句：

遏制坏苗头

Restrain a harmful trend when the symptoms appear

他一看苗头不对便溜了。

He slipped off when he sensed what was going to happen.