In embryo formal
In the early stages of planning and establishing something that has the capability for further development
I've seen the innate talent in him, yet it is in embryo.
These problems have existed in embryo.
The plan to construct a university here is still in embryo.
This idiom is formed based on the fact that an embryo is a young animal or plant in its early stages of growth, before birth or before emerging from its egg or seed.
Used to emphasize that someone or something is a lot more or a lot better
Mia can paint a damn sight better than I can.