A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

hit the ground • hit the ground running
hit the ground —(also: hit ground)
1
. fall to the ground sud-
denly (to avoid being shot, etc.): The voice was cut out by a
sudden blast of gunfire. He hit the ground and readied his
rifle. 2. (of a storm, etc.) come with forcible impact : We
watched a straight and narrow tornado hit the ground a few
miles north of the highway. 3. (of a ship) run aground: Heavy
winds began to pull it toward land, and at about 6 pm, the
ship hit ground and split apart.
hit the ground running —start a new job or endeavor effi-
ciently, with a great deal of energy: There are plenty of chal-
lenges facing the state, and Heath said he believes he will hit
the ground running if elected.
hit the high spots • hit the spot
hit the high spots —(coll.) say or do only the important or
obvious things: I said into the telephone, “Just hit the high
spots and don’t be too specific. I’m in a hurry.”
hit the spot—(coll.) be exactly what is required (especially of
food and drink): Seed tea hits the spot during the hot summer
months.
hit the road • hit the streets
hit the road —(coll.) get going; leave: Billy and I hit the road
early but were sidetracked by coffee and breakfast and didn’t
start in earnest until eight.
hit the streets —(coll.) 
1
. go out into the street: Within about
two minutes of hitting the streets we’d picked up a boy who
insisted on being our guide. 2. (of products) be launched;
appear on the market: This car will hit the streets in 20
1
5, but
it won’t be the first hybrid Volvo plans on releasing.
Hobson’s choice • Sophie’s choice
Hobson’s choice —the option of taking the one thing offered
or nothing: There is presently only one stock exchange in
Hong Kong and in that respect companies desiring a listing
are given Hobson’s choice.
Sophie’s choice —(originally the title of the book by W. Styron)
a choice between two persons or things that will result in the
death or destruction of the person or thing not chosen: I’m
not talking about situations like “Sophie’s Choice” where you
are forced into a terrible no-win decision by an outsider…