to get off the ground
38
4.2
- phrasal verb
:
poner en marcha
- After months of preparation, they finally managed to get the event off the ground successfully.
- project got off the ground
- program got off the ground
- never got off the ground
And I wish, wish, wish we could get humanism off the ground.
- And I wish, wish, wish we could get humanism off the ground.
- That's not, I think, a good way to get a movie off the ground.
- It takes a lot to get that kind of trial off the ground.
- So this is a DARPA style project and I'm really keen to get this off the ground.
- You can spend your time on this new family that you're just helping get off the ground and go.
- They would click on a text message saying help President Trump get his social media off the ground or help build the wall in Texas.
- So I think all of those accumulated is what kind of got this particular film off the ground.
- And so he was always trying to get off the ground a restaurant upstairs in that sort of themed.
- They were bumping their gums about this and the other never got really off the ground.
- Expensive divorces, financial struggles, challenges finding a new job or getting a new venture off the ground.
- So much though, that despite endless setbacks, I have tirelessly persisted in trying to get it off the ground.
- Only leave your job once you've made enough savings, and then use a small portion to get your own venture off the ground.
- Can you share a specific example of how your first few short films help get a feature film off the ground for you?
Examples
-
Most entrepreneurs don't get their businesses off the ground, not because they don't have good ideas, not because they're not good people.
-
Let's see if we can get this thing off the ground.
-
We're trying to get that off the ground.
-
I quit my job at The Times to get our website off the ground.
-
I'm trying to get my company off the ground.
-
Why was the hazardous waste management system taking so much time to get off the ground?
Academic text (1999) -
New educational programs devoted to those working with the elderly are also getting off the ground.
Academic text (1998) -
Making good technology choices will help you get off the ground and sustain an evolving solo practice.
Academic text (2009) -
For two years I've sweated blood to get this project off the ground.
-
In June, the plant's organizers received a $500,000 federal grant to help get the idea off the ground.
Academic text (2001)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To begin an action, event or process
504
3.7
To start something new with energy, often in public
481
1.8
To begin doing something, for example a task or meeting
422
2.3
To start doing something or to leave
286
1.4
To begin a job, project, or career
129
3.5
To start an event or activity, often officially
36
3.5
To start moving or begin working on something
16
2.8
To start a meeting or project by taking the first step
16
3.2
To begin a new business or project
16
3.8
To make a stopped activity or project begin again with energy
10
3.8
To start an event or activity, for example a speech
9
4.7
To make something begin or become active quickly and with energy
4
3.8
To start something quickly and give it extra energy to grow
3
5.8
Begin to fly, like birds rising into the air or projects starting to do well
2
4.8
To start quickly and get an early lead
1
4.9
Start a new activity very successfully and make quick progress
1
5.5
To start making progress after a time of little or no activity
1
5.1
To start a project or activity
Begin something very quickly and with a lot of energy
Antonyms
How Successful
116
4.1
86
3.0
38
4.2
481
1.8
370
2.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase uses a clear spatial metaphor: 'get' + 'off the ground' literally suggests rising from the ground, which maps onto the idea of launching or beginning to operate (similar to 'take off'). However, the extension to 'start or launch a project successfully' is metaphorical and not fully predictable from the parts, so a B1 learner who knows the words may still need exposure to learn the idiomatic usage.
Etymology
Get off the ground comes from the image of a plane or bird trying to get off the ground and lift into the air. That's why it means 'to start' or 'begin to work' successfully.