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Glite Dictionary
to put facts on the ground

to put facts on the ground

8.2
Make facts clear by showing proof
  • idiom
  • Literature
translation icon : poner hechos sobre la mesa
  • Investigators must put facts on the ground to support their claims in court.

Examples

  • It is important to put facts on the ground so that everyone understands the true situation.

  • Let's put facts on the ground!

  • The manager insisted that we put facts on the ground before moving forward with the proposal.

  • We need to put facts on the ground quickly.

  • The researchers aimed to put facts on the ground by conducting a series of field tests and observations.

  • In order to settle the debate, the team needed to put facts on the ground through clear evidence and data.

  • The organization worked tirelessly to put facts on the ground, ensuring everyone understood the real impacts of climate change.

Synonyms

to show
vsto put facts on the ground
∞ 1.0

To give proof that something is true

focuses more narrowly on making those findings concrete and visible in practice
to prove
vsto put facts on the ground
∞ 3.1

To show that something is true by giving facts or reasons

aims more at producing real, visible facts than only logical proof
to confirm
vsto put facts on the ground
∞ 1.8

To show that something is true by giving evidence

stresses making those facts practical and directly observable in the world
to demonstrate
vsto put facts on the ground
579 3.0

Show that something is true using evidence or examples

is about creating practical, visible facts rather than only showing evidence
to establish
vsto put facts on the ground
  • Formal
319 4.1

To show something is true using evidence

focuses on turning that proof into concrete, observable reality
to corroborate
vsto put facts on the ground
111 9.0

Use evidence to show that a statement or idea is true

differs by actively creating tangible, observable facts rather than only support
to substantiate
vsto put facts on the ground
  • Formal
44 7.2

To show that something is true by giving proof or facts

goes further by establishing those proofs as concrete, visible facts
to set the record straight
vsto put facts on the ground
42 3.2

Give the true facts to fix a wrong idea

is centered on creating visible, practical facts rather than only correcting views
to bear out
vsto put facts on the ground
7 4.7

Show by facts that something is true

is more proactive, producing clear, practical facts rather than only support

Antonyms

to obscure
86 7.0

Make something hard to see or understand

to confuse
38 1.9

Mix things up so their order is not clear

How Evident

to prove
∞ 3.1
to demonstrate
579 3.0
to put facts on the ground
  • Literature
8.2
to assert
229 3.9
to say
∞ 3.0

Surface Forms

put facts on the ground infinitive
put facts on the ground past
put facts on the ground past participle
putting facts on the ground present participle
puts facts on the ground third person singular

Morphology

put + fact + on + the + ground

The phrase uses the literal image of placing things 'on the ground' to mean making facts concrete or observable, so its meaning is derivable by metaphorically extending 'put' + 'facts' + 'on the ground'. However, this is a figurative/metaphorical use rather than a straightforward compositional meaning, so an average B1 learner would likely need some prior exposure or context to be sure of the intended sense.

Etymology

Put facts on the ground comes from the image of people going into a place and physically put real facts or markers on the ground so others can see them. That's why it now means 'to make something real and easy to see'.