prepare the ground
Set things up
To prepare the ground is to do preliminary work that makes later success possible.
The phrase comes from farming—loosening soil, removing rocks, adding nutrients before planting.
Figuratively, it means creating favorable conditions: She prepared the ground for the merger by meeting individually with board members.
Often used with "for": His early research prepared the ground for later breakthroughs.
- pave the wayPrepare conditions for advancement
- set the stagePrepare conditions for events
- readyingMaking prepared beforehand
- persuadingInducing belief or action
- tillingCultivating soil for crops
paving the way · foundation · break the ice · test the waters · fertilizing · briefing · prime the pump · get the ball rolling · grease the wheels · setting up · paving · scaffolding · sowing · resourcing · coordinating · irrigating · strategy · plowing
prepare the groundwing it
Act without preparation
fly by the seat of one's pants · improvise · shoot from the hip · rush in · go off half-cocked
prepare the groundexecute
Carry out fully
carry out · implement · do the deed · take center stage · culminate
prepare the groundsabotage
Deliberate disruption of operations
undermine · poison the well · burn bridges · torpedo · obstruct
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