get off the ground

Idioms  

1. 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

Vice President JD Vance opened the meeting, noting that consistent investment in critical mineral industries is “nearly impossible” with erratic pricing, driven by foreign supplies flooding markets before new projects can get off the ground.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

Those who have long waited for such a league to get off the ground in Europe could be forgiven for being measured in their anticipation until the first ball is bowled.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

Still, he’s happy to see the office get off the ground, particularly in light of the federal cuts to civil rights enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 28, 2025

Infrastructure projects need time to get off the ground, while worries over capacity—in particular labor shortages—could spell further delays.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 25, 2025

Each of these women, on her own, gauged the wind of her nation and used it to help her sister pilots get off the ground.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein