prepare the ground for (something)

to make conditions ready for something to happen in the future.

These experiments prepared the ground for the development of sound-recording technology.

Usage notes: often used in a political context:

Even if she is preparing the ground to run for governor, the senator will probably stay in the Senate.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of prepare the ground (= to make land ready for planting crops)

• factory floor
• facts of life
• fade into insignificance
• fag-end of
• fag-end of something
• fag hag
• fair and square
• fair dinkum
• Fair dos
• fair enough
• fairer sex
• fair play
• fair sex
• Fair's fair.
• fair shake
• fair to middling
• fair-weather friend
• fairy godmother
• fait accompli
• fall afoul of
• fall afoul of someone
• fall afoul of something
• fall all over
• fall all over to
• fall all over to do something