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In addition to the idioms beginning with GROUND, Also see BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND; BREAK GROUND; COMMON GROUND; COVER GROUND; COVER THE FIELD (GROUND); CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER; DOWN TO THE GROUND; EAR TO THE GROUND; FROM THE GROUND UP; GAIN GROUND; GET OFF THE GROUND; GIVE GROUND; HAPPY HUNTING GROUND; HIT THE GROUND RUNNING; LEAVE THE GROUND; LOSE GROUND; ON ONE'S HOME GROUND; RUN INTO THE GROUND; RUN TO EARTH (GROUND); STAMPING GROUND; STAND ONE'S GROUND; WORSHIP THE GROUND SOMEONE WALKS ON.
American Heritage Idioms
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verb be grounded in/on sth ADV. firmly His book is firmly grounded in memories of his own childhood., noun solid surface of the earth ADJ. firm, hard | muddy, soft, wet | dry, dusty | fertile (often figurative) The fall of the old regime provided fertile ground for opportunism. VERB + GROUND fall to, hit The helicopter burst into flames when it hit the ground. | reach She's so short, her feet don't reach the ground when she sits down. | get off, leave The plane was so overloaded it couldn't leave the ground. (figurative) His plan is too costly to ever get off the ground. GROUND + NOUN level A waterproof membrane is built into the wall just above ground level. PREP. above/below ~ The roots may spread as far below ground as does the foliage above ground. | in the ~ a hole in the ground | on the ~ He sat down on the ground. | under the ~ The tunnel goes deep under the ground. area of land ADJ. high, low The village stands on high ground and is not prone to flooding. | open | difficult, rocky, rough, stony, uneven | marshy QUANT. patch, piece We found a patch of open ground in the middle of the woods. piece of land used for a particular purpose ADJ. burial | dumping | cricket, football, practice, rugby, sports, training | parade | breeding, feeding, hunting PREP. at a/the ~ I'll meet you at the football ground. | in a/the ~ all the graves in the burial ground grounds: land surrounding a large building ADJ. extensive | castle, hospital, palace, school, etc. VERB + GROUND be set in, have The palace is set in extensive grounds. PREP. in the ~ (of) Many estate workers lived in cottages in the grounds of the castle. area of interest/study/discussion ADJ. familiar, firm, home I was on more familiar ground now that we were talking about our own system. | dangerous, shaky Legally, we're on very shaky ground (= our actions may not be legal). | safe | common Both parties in the debate shared some common ground. VERB + GROUND cover, go over Several researchers have published articles covering this ground. We just seem to be going over the same ground that we covered last year. PREP. on … ~ He knew he was on dangerous ground talking about money. PHRASES break new ground Her architectural designs have broken new ground. grounds: reason for sth ADJ. good, reasonable, sufficient, valid VERB + GROUND have The constable had reasonable grounds for arresting her. | give (sb) His evasiveness gave grounds for the suspicion that he knew more than he was saying. PREP. on … ~s Permission to open a mine was denied on environmental grounds. | on the ~s of He resigned from his post on the grounds of ill-health. | ~ for Drunkenness at work was sufficient grounds for instant dismissal.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary