get off the ground

Make a start, get underway, as in Because of legal difficulties, the construction project never got off the ground. This expression, alluding to flight, dates from the mid-1900s. The similar-sounding get off to a flying start, meaning “make a successful start,” alludes not to flight but to a quick start in a race, a usage from the late 1800s. For example, He's off to a flying start with his dissertation.

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Example Sentences

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The mayor of the East Midlands insists the coming year will be of "delivery" for the region after getting off the ground from scratch in her new role.

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A Coachella Valley district is plugging away at developing its own program, which could get off the ground next spring.

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Unless US President Donald Trump's position on the backstop changes, Sir Keir's coalition of the willing could struggle to get off the ground.

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That never got off the ground, but their personalities aligned.

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Indie movies are hard to get off the ground.

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get off the dime get off the hook

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