prepare the ground

prepare the ground (for something)

To create or prepare the basics or essential foundation (for something); to pave the way (for something). Our success with this healthcare bill wouldn't be possible had the previous administration not prepared the ground. As CEO of the company, I prepared the ground for one of the most successful international firms in the country.
See also: ground, prepare
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

prepare the ground

COMMON If you prepare the ground for a future event or course of action, you do things which will make it easier for that thing to happen. The president made it clear that his administration would continue to prepare the ground for future military action. The talks prepared the ground for the meeting of finance ministers and central bankers in Washington on September 19.
See also: ground, prepare
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

prepare the ground

make it easier for something to occur or be developed.
See also: ground, prepare
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

prepare the ˈground (for something)

do something which makes it possible or easier for something to happen: By making her his deputy, the chairman was preparing the ground for her to replace him after he retired. The meeting was to prepare the ground for next week’s peace talks.
See also: ground, prepare
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • prepare the ground (for something)
  • prepare the way (for something)
  • lay the groundwork (for something)
  • pave the way, to
  • be down to (something)
  • put some teeth into
  • put teeth in(to) (something)
  • give teeth to
  • give teeth to (something)
  • in substance
References in periodicals archive
GROUND RULES FOR PREPARING YOUR RHUBARB I want to order some rhubarb plants and prepare the ground beforehand.
WANT to order some rhubarb plants and QI prepare the ground beforehand.
Ground rules for a great rhubarb patch 6 I want to order some rhubarb plants and prepare the ground beforehand.
Army and Royal Thai Army engineers lay rock to prepare the ground for a concrete sidewalk alongside the new schoolhouse during the Hanuman Guardian 15 exercise, which sought to enhance humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities and improve local quality of life.
The decision to invite Labour's interim leader Harriet Harman to a National Security Council briefing on the threat last week was seen as a further step to prepare the ground for a possible parliamentary vote to extend air strikes in the autumn.
According to Professor Dimitar Mircev, the situation should be resolved in three separate steps, the last one of which could be early parliamentary elections; Professor Mirjana Maleska believes the latest developments in the country showed the true face of a usurped and uncontrolled government; According to Professor Jove Kekenovski, the situation cannot be resolved overnight and it would take 6-12 months to prepare the ground for elections; while Professor Zidas Daskalovski says the wiretapping affair has demonstrated that the present political elites have no moral integrity and should be superseded by one ones.
Summary: The World Bank is helping Lebanon prepare the ground to request an influx of international aid to offset the high costs of the spillover from the Syrian war, President Jim Yong Kim told the Associated Press.
Kuribrena is expected to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments with his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoy-lu, in a bid to prepare the ground for Mexican President Enrique PeEa Nieto's visit in September.
Prepare the ground by digging the soil to loosen it.
The new rules will make for easier follow-up by national authorities on OLAF investigations and will prepare the ground for a future European prosecutor's office.
Jaganmohan Reddy, thereby shattering his hopes of coming out on bail and going to the people to prepare the ground for the 2014 general elections.
? Prepare the ground if you are planning to sow or turf a new lawn, to give the ground time to settle.
14:45 THE cabinet on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the second round of offshore oil and gas exploration, authorising the trade and industry minister to prepare the ground for the official announcement.
The meetings discussed means of promoting the regional and economic cooperation through studying the basic principles for transit policies in order to prepare the ground for availing suitable legislations that would simplify international trade procedures and setting up efficient traffic systems to facilitate transit process to open new horizons for further economic and trade cooperation between these countries.