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

bring something to the ground • get something off
the ground
bring something to the ground —
1
. (of a plane) land: He made
the landing as carefully as he could and brought the plane to
the ground with as much care as possible. 2. topple smth. by
a blow or shot: But it was the arrow of the elder man which
pierced the animal and brought it to the ground. 3. treat smth.
so badly as to destroy it: They wanted to launch a general
strike which would bring the country to the ground.
get something off the ground —
1
. (of a stranded ship) get afloat:
There was ten feet of water inside the ship, so there was no
longer any hope to get the ship off the ground. 2. put a rocket
into space or get a plane to fly: I’ll announce the weather to
the passengers as soon as we get the plane off the ground. 3.
(of a project, scheme, etc.) launch; get started: To get the plan
off the ground, Carter has asked that funding for the program
be increased.
bring something under control • take control of
something
bring something under control —manage to obtain one’s au-
thority or power over a situation, etc.: The fire started yester-
day afternoon and was finally brought under control late last
night.
take control of something —
1
. assume charge of a situation,
etc.: That opportunity resides in creating a new generation of
entrepreneurs who will take control of the destiny of our na-
tion. 2. (of a political party) win a majority of elected places:
The outcome of legislative races in California could be sig-
nificant in deciding who will take control of the Congress.
bring the house down • pull the house down
bring the house down —(of a performance) produce loud and
prolonged applause; be received very successfully: There was
one scene which never failed to bring the house down.