get off the ground

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.

Example Sentences

However, while biomass energy has surged in Southern states such as Georgia, projects in California have struggled to get off the ground.

From Los Angeles Times

"If they can't get their act together between them, it doesn't give people a lot of faith that the vehicle can get off the ground," he told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.

From BBC

Most of first projects Ottawa said it wants to get off the ground quickly were already at some stage of development.

From BBC

But the plan was dead before it could even get off the ground.

From Los Angeles Times

"You must land many balls all in one go for a film to get off the ground - and sometimes it takes a long time."

From BBC