smooth the way for (someone/something)

to make conditions easier for something to happen.

Parents can do a lot to smooth the way for their children when they start school.

To smooth our way, many people offered to drive us to and from the hospital.

• be in the first flush of
• be in the first flush of something
• be in the frame
• be in the front line
• be in the grip of
• be in the grip of something
• be in the groove
• be in the hole
• be in the know
• be in the land of nod
• be in the land of the living
• be in the lap of the gods
• be in the limelight
• be in the loop
• be ... in the making
• be in the market for
• be in the market for something
• be in the money
• be in the nature of the beast
• be in the picture
• be in the pink
• be in the pipeline
• be in the public eye
• be in the pudding club
• be in the red