paving the way
Clearing the path
Paving the way means creating conditions that make something possible or easier for what follows.
The metaphor is literal road-building—smoothing a path so others can travel it: Her research paved the way for breakthroughs in cancer treatment.
Often used with "for": The treaty paved the way for decades of peace.
- groundbreakingIntroducing radical new ideas
- breaking groundStarting work on site
- leadingGuiding or pacing type
- initiatingCausing to start
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
ushering · facilitating · lay · catalyst · precursor · pathfinder · pioneering · prepare · forge ahead · vanguard · blaze a trail · set the stage · trendsetter · foundation · icebreaker · forging · path · trailblazing
- initiativetake action, taking initiative, go for it, initiating, take the lead
- progressprogress, in progress, promotion, raise, making progress
paving the wayobstructing
Blocking forward movement
impeding · standing in the way · hindering · throwing up roadblocks · thwarting
paving the wayimitating
Copying another's manner
bringing up the rear · copying · trailing behind · following the crowd · jumping on the bandwagon
pavement, pathway, pave, paving, paved, paves, unpaved, paver, pavers