give ground

Idioms  

1. Yield to a stronger force, retreat, as in He began to give ground on that point, although he didn't stop arguing entirely. This expression originated in the 1500s, when it alluded to a military force retreating and so giving up territory to the enemy. By the mid-1600s it was being used figuratively.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

give ground

However, the notable absence of Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang on the trip could suggest the U.S. is less likely to give ground on technology restrictions.

From Barron's ● May 12, 2026

Did the SFA give ground on some of the points raised?

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2023

The 24-year-old Mbappé is locked in a contract standoff and neither side seems prepared to give ground.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 27, 2023

That will make it hard for her to give ground in the dispute with Brussels.

From New York Times ● Sep. 3, 2022

Both Walt and Billie are tightly wound, emotional, loath to give ground.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• abandon
• back down
• back off
• backtrack
• depart
• escape
• evacuate
• fall back
• go
• go back
• hide
• leave
• pull out
• recede
• reel
• retire
• reverse
• shrink
• withdraw