go to ground

Vanish from sight

To go to ground is to hide or retreat from pursuit, like a fox disappearing into its burrow.

The phrase comes from hunting but now applies to anyone who becomes deliberately unreachable: After the scandal broke, the CEO went to ground and refused all interviews.

It suggests strategic withdrawal rather than panic—lying low until danger passes.

hiding

concealment

Act of hiding something

hideoutSecret place of refuge
refugePlace of safety
sanctuaryProtected sacred space

safehouse · burrow · den · lair · bolt-hole · cover · disappear · vanish · evade · elude

foxhunting

burrow

Animal's dug dwelling

earthSoil or electrical grounding
denPrivate room or lair
foxCunning wild canine

hounds · hunt · chase · quarry · terrain · countryside · pursuit · escape · refuge · bolt

retreat

withdraw

Remove or pull away

seclusionVoluntary withdrawal from society
isolateSeparate from others
solitudeState of being alone

hermit · recluse · disengage · drop out · step back · privacy · sanctuary · shelter · hibernation · escape

Opposites

visibility/exposure

go to groundshow oneself

Become present to others

surface · go public · break cover · come out of the woodwork · emerge

engagement vs. withdrawal

go to groundface the music

Accept deserved consequences

hold one's ground · stand one's ground · confront · take a stand · engage

activity/emergence

go to groundresurface

Appear again after absence

reemerge · come back · take center stage · make a comeback · spring into action

Family

going, gone, ground, grounds, grounded, grounding, groundless, underground, foreground

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G