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from the ground up: meaning and explanation

If you do something from the ground up, then you do it completely, from the very beginning, or from the most basic level.

This expression is useful when describing the process of building a business – saying that you built it from the ground up emphasises the fact that you created the business from nothing.

This expression is also useful when talking about redesigning or rebuilding something. Using the expression emphasises that the rebuilding or redesigning process is very thorough or complete (which is often a positive or reassuring thing). e.g. After the data breach last year, we redesigned our security systems from the ground up.

Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?

Listening exercises

Micro-listening #1

Accent: North America

.
He successful businesses and now works speaker.
He built successful businesses the ground and now works a public speaker.

Micro-listening #2

Accent: Ireland

Micro-listening #3

Accent: Australia

 

Extra practice

Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:

  • Can you think of any good examples of businesses or products that were built from the ground up?
  • What risks are involved with building something from the ground up, as opposed to developing or evolving something that already exists?
  • Have you ever built anything from the ground up?

Photo by 贝莉儿 DANIST on Unsplash

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