From the ground up

Business English | C1

Examples 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?

Accent: North America