grind : Idioms & Phrases

Index


Absorbent ground

  • (Paint.), a ground prepared for a picture, chiefly with distemper, or water colors, by which the oil is absorbed, and a brilliancy is imparted to the colors.
Webster 1913

Advantage ground

  • vantage ground. R. Clarendon.
Webster 1913

air-to-ground

  • adjective operating from or designed to be fired from aircraft at targets on the ground
    air-to-surface.
    • air-to-surface missiles
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air-to-ground missile

  • noun a missile designed to be launched from an airplane at a target on the ground
    air-to-surface missile.
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anchorage ground

  • noun place for vessels to anchor
    anchorage.
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arctic ground squirrel

  • noun large ground squirrel of the North American far north
    Citellus parryi; parka squirrel.
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barren ground caribou

  • noun of tundra of northern Canada; in some classifications included in the species Rangifer tarandus
    Rangifer arcticus.
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bed ground

  • noun an area on which a drove of cattle or sheep can sleep for a night
    bed ground; bedground.
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bed-ground

  • noun an area on which a drove of cattle or sheep can sleep for a night
    bed ground; bedground.
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breeding ground

  • noun a place where animals breed
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Broken ground

  • . (a) (Mil.) Rough or uneven ground; as, the troops were retarded in their advance by broken ground. (b) Ground recently opened with the plow.
Webster 1913

Brussels ground

  • a name given to the handmade ground of real Brussels lace. It is very costly because of the extreme fineness of the threads.
Webster 1913

Brussels wire ground

  • a ground for lace, made of silk, with meshes partly straight and partly arched.
Webster 1913

Burial ground

  • noun a tract of land used for burials
    graveyard; burial ground; memorial park; cemetery; burial site; necropolis.
WordNet
  • a piece of ground selected and set apart for a place of buriials, and consecrated to such use by religious ceremonies.
Webster 1913

burying ground

  • noun a tract of land used for burials
    graveyard; burial ground; memorial park; cemetery; burial site; necropolis.
WordNet
Bur"y*ing ground`, Bur"y*ing place (Also<
  • Burying ground
  • Burying place
)
Definitions
  1. The ground or place for burying the dead; burial place.
Webster 1913

camping ground

  • noun a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent
    encampment; bivouac; camping site; campsite; camping area; campground.
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common ground

  • noun a basis agreed to by all parties for reaching a mutual understanding
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Contour of ground

  • (Surv.), the outline of the surface of ground with respect to its undulation, etc.
Webster 1913

dark ground illumination

  • noun a form of microscopic examination of living material by scattered light; specimens appear luminous against a dark background
    dark field illumination.
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Dead ground

  • (Mining), the portion of a vein in which there is no ore.
Webster 1913

downy ground cherry

  • noun decorative American annual having round fleshy yellow berries enclosed in a bladderlike husk
    Physalis pubescens; strawberry tomato.
WordNet

eastern ground snake

  • noun in some classifications placed in genus Haldea; small reddish-grey snake of eastern North America
    Potamophis striatula; Haldea striatula.
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gain ground

  • verb obtain advantages, such as points, etc.
    make headway; advance; get ahead; win; gain; pull ahead.
    • The home team was gaining ground
    • After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference
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get off the ground

  • verb get started or set in motion, used figuratively
    take off.
    • the project took a long time to get off the ground
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gill-over-the-ground

  • noun trailing European aromatic plant of the mint family having rounded leaves and small purplish flowers often grown in hanging baskets; naturalized in North America; sometimes placed in genus Nepeta
    field balm; runaway robin; Nepeta hederaceae; Glechoma hederaceae; alehoof; gill-over-the-ground.
WordNet

grind away

  • verb study intensively, as before an exam
    drum; swot up; bone up; get up; bone; cram; mug up; swot.
    • I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam
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grind down

  • verb rule a country as a tyrant
    tyrannize; tyrannise.
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grind organ

  • noun a musical instrument that makes music by rotation of a cylinder studded with pegs
    barrel organ; hand organ; hurdy gurdy; street organ; hurdy-gurdy.
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grind out

  • verb produce in a routine or monotonous manner
    crank out.
    • We have to crank out publications in order to receive funding
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grind to a halt

  • verb be unable to move further
    mire; bog down; get stuck.
    • The car bogged down in the sand
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grinding wheel

  • noun a wheel composed of abrasive material; used for grinding
    emery wheel.
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ground almond

  • noun European sedge having small edible nutlike tubers
    chufa; yellow nutgrass; Cyperus esculentus; rush nut; earth almond.
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ground attack

  • noun an attack by ground troops
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ground bait

  • noun bait scattered on the water to attract fish
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ground ball

  • noun (baseball) a hit that travels along the ground
    grounder; groundball; hopper.
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ground bass

  • noun a short melody in the bass that is constantly repeated
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ground beef

  • noun beef that has been ground
    hamburger.
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ground beetle

  • noun predacious shining black or metallic terrestrial beetle that destroys many injurious insects
    carabid beetle.
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ground cable

  • noun a mooring cable; runs from a buoy to a mooring anchor
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ground cedar

  • noun a variety of club moss
    staghorn moss; Lycopodium complanatum.
  • noun a procumbent variety of the common juniper
    Juniperus communis depressa; dwarf juniper.
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ground cherry

  • noun any of numerous cosmopolitan annual or perennial herbs of the genus Physalis bearing edible fleshy berries enclosed in a bladderlike husk; some cultivated for their flowers
    husk tomato.
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ground cloth

  • noun a waterproofed piece of cloth spread on the ground (as under a tent) to protect from moisture
    groundsheet.
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ground control

  • noun a communication system for sending continuous radio messages to an airplane pilot who is making a ground-controlled approach to landing
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ground cover

  • noun low-growing plants planted in deep shade or on a steep slope where turf is difficult to grow
    groundcover.
  • noun small plants other than saplings growing on a forest floor
    groundcover.
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ground crew

  • noun the crew of technicians and mechanics who service aircraft on the ground
    ground crew.
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ground effect

  • noun apparent increase in aerodynamic lift experienced by an aircraft flying close to the ground
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ground fir

  • noun a variety of club moss
    Lycopodium obscurum; tree clubmoss; princess pine.
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ground fire

  • noun a forest fire that burns the humus; may not appear on the surface
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ground floor

  • noun the floor of a building that is at or nearest to the level of the ground around the building
    ground floor; first floor.
  • noun becoming part of a venture at the beginning (regarded as position of advantage)
    • he got in on the ground floor
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ground forces

  • noun a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state
    regular army; army.
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ground glass

  • noun glass that diffuses light due to a rough surface produced by abrasion or etching
  • noun particulate glass made by grinding and used as an abrasive
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ground ivy

  • noun trailing European aromatic plant of the mint family having rounded leaves and small purplish flowers often grown in hanging baskets; naturalized in North America; sometimes placed in genus Nepeta
    field balm; runaway robin; Nepeta hederaceae; Glechoma hederaceae; alehoof; gill-over-the-ground.
WordNet

ground level

  • noun the height of the ground on which something stands
    grade.
    • the base of the tower was below grade
  • noun the floor of a building that is at or nearest to the level of the ground around the building
    ground floor; first floor.
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ground loop

  • noun a sharp uncontrollable turn made by an airplane while moving along the ground
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ground noise

  • noun extraneous noise contaminating sound measurements that cannot be separated from the desired signal
    background noise.
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ground out

  • verb make an out by hitting the ball on the ground
WordNet

ground pine

  • noun any of several club mosses having long creeping stems and erect branches
    Christmas green.
  • noun low-growing annual with yellow flowers dotted red; faintly aromatic of pine resin; Europe, British Isles and North Africa
    yellow bugle; Ajuga chamaepitys.
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ground pink

  • noun low wiry-stemmed branching herb or southern California having fringed pink flowers
    moss pink; Linanthus dianthiflorus; fringed pink.
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ground plan

  • noun a floor plan for the ground level of a building
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ground rattler

  • noun small pygmy rattlesnake
    Sistrurus miliaris; massasauga.
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ground rent

  • noun payment for the right to occupy and improve a piece of land
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ground roller

  • noun Madagascan roller with terrestrial and crepuscular habits that feeds on e.g. insects and worms
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ground rose

  • noun low-growing bristly shrub of southern Oregon and California with creeping rootstocks and usually corymbose flowers
    Rosa spithamaea.
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ground rule

  • noun (baseball) a special rule (as in baseball) dealing with situations that arise due to the nature of the playing grounds
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ground sloth

  • noun gigantic extinct terrestrial sloth-like mammal of the Pliocene and Pleistocene in America
    megathere.
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ground snake

  • noun small shy brightly-ringed terrestrial snake of arid or semiarid areas of western North America
    Sonora semiannulata.
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ground squirrel

  • noun small striped semiterrestrial eastern American squirrel with cheek pouches
    Tamias striatus; striped squirrel; eastern chipmunk; hackee.
  • noun any of various terrestrial burrowing rodents of Old and New Worlds; often destroy crops
    spermophile; gopher.
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ground state

  • noun (physics) the lowest energy state of an atom or other particle
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ground stroke

  • noun a tennis return made by hitting the ball after it has bounced once
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ground substance

  • noun the body substance in which tissue cells are embedded
    intercellular substance; matrix.
  • noun the clear nongranular portion of the cytoplasm of a cell
    hyaloplasm.
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ground swell

  • noun an obvious change of public opinion or political sentiment that occurs without leadership or overt expression
    • there was a ground swell of antiwar sentiment
  • noun a broad and deep undulation of the ocean
    heavy swell.
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ground tackle

  • noun a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
    anchor.
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ground water

  • noun underground water that is held in the soil and in pervious rocks
    well water; spring water.
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ground wave

  • noun a radio wave propagated on or near the earth's surface
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ground zero

  • noun the target of a projectile (as a bomb or missile)
  • noun the site of the World Trade Center before it was destroyed
  • noun the point of detonation (or above or below) of a nuclear weapon
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ground-berry

  • noun small prostrate or ascending shrub having scarlet flowers and succulent fruit resembling cranberries; sometimes placed in genus Styphelia
    Styphelia humifusum; groundberry; cranberry heath; native cranberry; Astroloma humifusum.
  • noun creeping shrub of eastern North America having white bell-shaped flowers followed by spicy red berrylike fruit and shiny aromatic leaves that yield wintergreen oil
    teaberry; wintergreen; groundberry; Gaultheria procumbens; checkerberry; creeping wintergreen; mountain tea.
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ground-controlled approach

  • noun aircraft landing in bad weather in which the pilot is talked down by ground control using precision approach radar
    GCA.
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ground-effect machine

  • noun a craft capable of moving over water or land on a cushion of air created by jet engines
    hovercraft.
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ground-emplaced mine

  • noun an explosive mine hidden underground; explodes when stepped on or driven over
    booby trap; land mine.
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ground-floor

  • adjective satellite on the floor closest to level with the ground
    • the ground-floor entrance is kept locked
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ground-hugging

  • adjective satellite of plants that grow relatively low to the ground
    low-growing; flat-growing.
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ground-service crew

  • noun the crew of technicians and mechanics who service aircraft on the ground
    ground crew.
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ground-shaker

  • noun huge herbivorous dinosaur of the Cretaceous found in western North America
    seismosaur.
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high ground

  • noun a position of superiority over opponents or competitors
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home ground

  • noun the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or occurs
    habitat.
    • a marine habitat
    • he felt safe on his home grounds
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Hunting ground

  • noun a place where opportunities abound
  • noun an area in which game is hunted
WordNet
  • a region or district abounding in game; esp. (pl.), the regions roamed over by the North American Indians in search of game.
Webster 1913

mantled ground squirrel

  • noun common black-striped reddish-brown ground squirrel of western North America; resembles a large chipmunk
    Citellus lateralis.
WordNet

middle-ground

Mid"dle-ground` noun
Definitions
  1. (Paint.) That part of a picture between the foreground and the background.
Webster 1913

On even ground

  • with equal advantage.
Webster 1913

parade ground

  • noun an area for holding parades
WordNet

picnic ground

  • noun a tract of land set aside for picnicking
    picnic area.
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piece of ground

  • noun an extended area of land
    piece of land; parcel of land; parcel; tract.
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pleasure ground

  • noun a commercially operated park with stalls and shows for amusement
    funfair; amusement park.
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plot of ground

  • noun a small area of ground covered by specific vegetation
    plot; patch; plot of land.
    • a bean plot
    • a cabbage patch
    • a briar patch
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proving ground

  • noun a workplace for testing new equipment or ideas
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purple ground cherry

  • noun Mexican annual naturalized in eastern North America having yellow to purple edible fruit resembling small tomatoes
    jamberry; Physalis philadelphica; tomatillo; miltomate.
  • noun annual of tropical South America having edible purple fruits
    cape gooseberry; Physalis peruviana.
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richardson ground squirrel

  • noun of sagebrush and grassland areas of western United States and Canada
    Citellus richardsoni; flickertail.
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solid ground

  • noun the solid part of the earth's surface
    dry land; land; terra firma; earth; ground.
    • the plane turned away from the sea and moved back over land
    • the earth shook for several minutes
    • he dropped the logs on the ground
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Stamping ground

  • noun a frequently visited place
    resort; hangout; haunt; repair.
WordNet
  • a place frequented, and much trodden, by animals, wild or domesticated ; hence (Colloq.), the scene of one's labors or exploits; also, one's favorite resort. U.S.
Webster 1913

teeing ground

  • noun the starting place for each hole on a golf course
    tee.
    • they were waiting on the first tee
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Tenter ground

  • a place where tenters are erected.
Webster 1913

testing ground

  • noun a region resembling a laboratory inasmuch as it offers opportunities for observation and practice and experimentation
    laboratory.
    • the new nation is a testing ground for socioeconomic theories
    • Pakistan is a laboratory for studying the use of American troops to combat terrorism
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To bite the dust, To bite the ground

  • to fall in the agonies of death; as, he made his enemy bite the dust.
Webster 1913

To bite the ground, To break ground

  • . See under Bite, Break.
Webster 1913

To break ground

  • . (a) To open the earth as for planting; to commence excavation, as for building, siege operations, and the like; as, to break ground for a foundation, a canal, or a railroad. (b) Fig.: To begin to execute any plan. (c) (Naut.) To release the anchor from the bottom.
Webster 1913

To come to the ground, To fall to the ground

  • to come to nothing; to fail; to miscarry.
Webster 1913

To cover ground

Webster 1913

To gain ground

  • . (a) To advance; to proceed forward in confict; as, an army in battle gains ground. (b) To obtain an advantage; to have some success; as, the army gains ground on the enemy. (c) To gain credit; to become more prosperous or influential.
  • to make progress; to advance in any undertaking; to prevail; to acquire strength or extent.
Webster 1913

To get, ∨ To gather, ground

  • to gain ground. R. "Evening mist . . . gathers ground fast." Milton.
    There is no way for duty to prevail, and get ground of them, but by bidding higher. South.
Webster 1913

To give ground

  • to recede; to yield advantage.
    These nine . . . began to give me ground. Shak.
Webster 1913

To go to ground

  • . (a) To escape into a hole; said of a hunted fox. (b) To fall in battle.
Webster 1913

To lose ground

  • to retire; to retreat; to withdraw from the position taken; hence, to lose advantage; to lose credit or reputation; to decline.
  • to fall behind; to suffer gradual loss or disadvantage.
Webster 1913

To run into the ground

  • to carry to an absurd extreme; to overdo. Slang, U.S. also, to operate a machine (as a car) without maintenance, until it malfunctions or becomes useless
Webster 1913

To stand one's ground

  • to stand firm; to resist attack or encroachment. Atterbury.
  • to keep the ground or station one has taken; to maintain one's position. "Pleasants and burghers, however brave, are unable to stand their ground against veteran soldiers." Macaulay.
Webster 1913

To take ground to the rightto the left

  • (Mil.), to extend the line to the right or left; to move, as troops, to the right or left.
Webster 1913

To take the ground

  • to touch bottom or become stranded; said of a ship.
Webster 1913

Under ground

  • below the surface of the ground.
Webster 1913

Vantage ground

  • superiority of state or place; the place or condition which gives one an advantage over another. "The vantage ground of truth. Bacon.
    It is these things that give him his actual standing, and it is from this vantage ground that he looks around him. I. Taylor.
Webster 1913

winter-ground

Win"ter-ground` transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To coved over in the season of winter, as for protection or shelter; as, to winter-ground the roods of a plant.
    The ruddock would . . . bring thee all this, Yea, and furred moss besides, when flowers are none To winter-ground thy corse. Shak.
Webster 1913