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)

• heck of a
• heck of a lot of
• heck of a lot of something
• heck of a someone
• heck of a something
• hedge bets
• hedge your bets
• he doesn't have a ... bone in his body
• he doesn't have a jealous bone in his body
• he doesn't have a [jealous, mean, unkind etc.] bone in his body
• he doesn't have a mean bone in his body
• he doesn't have a unkind bone in his body
• height of
• height of something
• hell break loose
• hell breaks loose
• Hell hath no fury .
• Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
• hell of a
• hell of a lot of
• hell of a lot of something
• hell of a someone
• hell of a something
• hell on earth
• hell on wheels