broke ground
Began building work
Broke ground is the past tense of break ground, meaning to begin construction by digging into the earth: They broke ground on the new library last spring.
Figuratively, it means to do something innovative or unprecedented: Her research broke ground in cancer treatment.
The past participle is broken ground.
- holeAbsence in matter
- digUnearth by shoveling
- breakInterrupt continuity
- from scratchStarting with nothing prepared
- fresh startOpportunity to restart unburdened
turning point · earth · origination · trailblazing · pioneering · work · inception · excavation · foundation · trenching · soil · commencement · bulldozing · hard hat · breakthrough · inauguration · dirt · launch
broke groundtopped out
wrapped up · concluded · demolished · shuttered · finished
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