🗓️ Idiom: Lay the Groundwork (verb)
💬 Meaning
- To prepare the foundation for future success.
- To do the early work that allows progress later.
🧠 Example Sentences
- She spent several months laying the groundwork before asking for a leadership role.
- The training program laid the groundwork for employees to advance their careers.
- During his probation, he focused on laying the groundwork for long-term growth within the company.
🏛️ Origin
The word groundwork originally meant the foundation of a building, coming from the mid-15th century as ground + work. (etymonline.com) Over time, it took on a figurative meaning: doing preparatory or foundational work. (etymonline.com)
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
Before launching her own department, she spent months __________.
Answer
laying the groundwork
2. Multiple choice:
What does “laying the groundwork” mean?
a) Building a physical foundation
b) Preparing the early steps for success
c) Finishing a final project
Answer
b) Preparing the early steps for success
3. Change the sentence using laying the groundwork:
“He set up connections and networks before starting the new project.”
Answer
He laid the groundwork by building connections and networks before starting the new project.
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Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
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