at the grass roots

at the grass roots

At the level of the ordinary people in a group, as opposed to the leaders. Why shouldn't ordinary people take action? Our society has a history of bringing about major changes by starting at the grass roots.
See also: grass, root
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at the grass roots

at the level of the ordinary voter; among the rank and file of a political party.
See also: grass, root
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • grass roots
  • grassroots
  • the grass roots
  • clout
  • clout list
  • Joe Public
  • John Q Public
  • John Q. Public
  • a man of the people
  • a man/woman of the people
References in classic literature
At the base of the "V," by the water's edge, he had found the gold colors at the grass roots. The higher he went up the hill, the deeper the gold dipped.
Moon Face and Other Stories
"Interfaith Dialogue at the Grass Roots" is a collection of stories and articles about how to do meetings of religious minds the right way.
Interfaith Dialogue at the Grass Roots
Dear Editor, - Disaster at the grass roots of cricket - I have just returned from a visit to an old friend, Jim Stevens in Truro, Cornwall.
DEAR EDITOR: It's just not cricket! Cash crisis
Liberal Democrats chairman Mark Oaten said: "These figures give the lie to talk of a Conservative revival at the grass roots level.
Tory activists' new fund low; EXCLUSIVE
On the other hand, I do not see enough going on at the grass roots level to convince me that things will be changing very much, very fast, very soon.
Reflections on forty years in the school counseling profession: is the glass half full or half empty?
"Although never able to transform electoral politics or enact dramatic reforms during the period," he writes, "YAF infiltrated the Republican Party at the grass roots and served as a breeding ground for future generations of conservative leaders.
The Other Side of the Sixties: Young Americans for Freedom and the Rise of Conservative Politics
For more information, please contact Richard Daw at the Grass Roots Group.
British shoppers are getting better service but there are still serious problems in some sectors