idiom · neutral
hit the ground running
/hɪt ðə ɡraʊnd ˈrʌnɪŋ/HIT·the·GROUND·RUN·ning
to start something and perform very well immediately without needing much preparation.
Examples
“New students who revise before term usually hit the ground running in week one.”
“If you prepare the materials in advance, you can hit the ground running on the first day.”
“She hit the ground running in her new research role and published within months.”
Band 8 sentence
“With prior reading and practice, interns can hit the ground running and contribute within days rather than weeks.”
Collocations
- hit the ground running in (a course/job/project)
Word family
Common mistakes
hit ground running→hit the ground running
hit the ground and run→hit the ground running
Say it for a higher band
5start well→6start off strongly→7+hit the ground running
Synonyms
start off strongly
Easily confused
get off to a flying start
“The team got off to a flying start, winning their first three matches.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Study
Learn it with its set